TEOK, Nov 26 � Irked villagers of Jhanjimukh, Meleng Balichapori, Namchuk, Dhekiakhowa and its adjoining areas blocked the NH-37 at Lahdoigarh under Teok police station on Tuesday morning in protest against the failure of the forest officials and the district administration to keep a tab on the menace of wild tuskers.
It is reported that a herd of wild elephants, numbering more than 100, has been causing immense damage to the standing crop and houses of these villagers. The herd, which takes shelter on the chaporis of the Brahmputra river, often comes to the nearby villages at night in search of food as it is the harvesting season and destroys paddy crops and other vegetables.
�We have approached the forest officials on several occasions, but they have totally failed to push the wild elephants away from the area. To invite the attention of the government, we have lodged our protest by blocking the highway,� stated a protester.
The AJYCP, Kakojan regional unit and the Bhumi Suraksha Oikya Mancha also supported the protest programme and took part in it.
Later, after receiving assurance from the officials of the district administration, who arrived at the protest site, the protesters suspended their agitation. However, the affected villagers have warned to continue with the agitation if the concerned officials did not take any effective measures.
