Northeast Desk, 19th January: Hundreds of residents in and around Teliamura Sub-division, Khowai District, Tripura on Friday blocked the Assam-Agartala National Highway, seeking protection from wild elephant attacks. Proclaiming a decade of difficulties, the protestors accused wild elephants of frequenting their villages, causing destruction to homes, crops, and creating a constant atmosphere of fear.
One protester expressed, “We are unable to sleep properly at night. We live in fear as wild elephants launch attacks on our village almost every night. They destroy our homes and take away food and everything.” Despite reporting the issue to the local administration multiple times, the residents claimed no decisive action had been taken, leading to their decision to block the highway in protest.
A woman from the protest shared a harrowing incident, stating, “Yesterday, my child was almost killed as a herd of wild elephants suddenly entered the village and destroyed our house. How will we survive? Many people have died, and many have become homeless due to elephant attacks. We are not receiving any help from our local MLA and Minister Bikas Debbarma. Hundreds of fruit orchards, including bananas, mangoes, coconuts, and betel nut trees, are being destroyed.”
Residents of Teliamura sub-division, specifically in the 29 Krishnapur Assembly Constituency, have endured over a decade of living in fear due to the relentless attacks by wild elephants. The situation has compelled many to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere.
The vast areas of Teliamura sub-division, including Chakmaghat, Champlai, Krishnapur, Bhumihin Colony, Baralunga, Daochra, Maharanipur, DM Colony, Kapalibasti, and North Maharani, are heavily affected by the roaming herds of wild elephants.
Despite various efforts, both scientific and unscientific, to safeguard the areas from elephant intrusions, affected families assert a lack of assistance from the village panchayat to the forest department. Responding to the situation, Tripura Police and Teliamura Sub-Divisional Magistrate Abhijit Chakraborty rushed to the spot. The road blockade persisted for about an hour and a half. Minister of Tribal Welfare Department and MLA Bikas Debbarma were present during the blockade, and assurances of necessary steps led to the eventual lifting of the road blockade.
Read More: Assam: Rahul Gandhi Advocates Local Governance During ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in state