Protest against elephant menace in Khunti The Times of India September 28, 2024 Ranchi: The Khunti district unit of the Jharkhand State Kisan Sabha held a protest in front of the Forest Division Officer's office on Friday, voicing concerns over the increasing menace of wild elephants in the area. The demonstration drew a significant turnout of farmers and women, who marched from Patra Ground to the office despite rain. Sufal Mahato, the sabha president, said, "Jharkhand has become a state terrorized by wild elephants. Hundreds of farmers have been killed by wild animal, and their crops and homes are being destroyed on a massive scale across the state. Central govt must ensure compensation for the families of those killed. Forest laws should also be amended in the interest of farmers." The protesters expressed their demands through slogans, urging immediate measures to safeguard farmers from elephant attacks. They called for compensation of Rs 1 crore and government employment for the families of farmers who lost their lives due to elephants, Rs 50 lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 50,000 per acre for crop damage. They also demanded relocation of elephants from agricultural areas and a lasting resolution to the problem. "A 10-point memorandum, outlining these demands, was submitted to the DFO to be forwarded to PM Narendra Modi," Mahato stated. Birendra Kumar, the treasurer of the farmers’ organisation, said, "The recent death of farmer Jego Munda of Torpa and the destruction of crops have fuelled public anger. The Sabha will intensify its movement until a permanent solution to the elephant terror is found." Attempts to reach Dilip Kumar, the Khunti Divisional Forest Officer, for comment were unsuccessful as he did not respond to TOI's calls. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/protest-against-elephant-menace-in-khunti/articleshow/113752100.cms