M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, May 5: A herd of 14 to 16 elephants killed three of a family of brick kiln workers last night.
Kumar Ashutosh, the chief conservator of forest Palamu, said the brick kiln workers belonged to Bhandarya block in Garhwa district and were at the brick kiln site at Maalhan where last night the herd of the elephants attacked their shanty dwelling.
The deceased have been identified as Panuwa Bhuiyan 26, his wife Babita Devi 24 and their 3 years old daughter Manjisha.
Ashutosh said the herd of elephants was aggressive. It has a tusker too.
The forest division of Latehar has given ex gratia relief worth Rs 60,000 for the post-death rites and rituals of all three.
The herd of the elephants is said to have moved towards Barwa Toli which is in contiguity of Lohardaga district’s Kuru police station.
Officer in charge of the Chandwa police station Amit Gupta said the herd of elephants was noticed in the past few days as it was found at Jameera.
