Gaurs run amok, injure six

TT, Alipurduar: Three gaurs came out of the Chilapata forest in Alipurduar on Monday, strayed into three villages and injured six persons.

Foresters had to struggle to send these animals back into the forests. Sources said around 6am, residents of Banchukamari spotted the gaurs. The animals were roaming around and seeing people, they entered a betel nut plantation at the village.

As the news spread, more and more people gathered at the spot. Some started pelting stones at the animals. A team of foresters arrived soon.

Suddenly, the gaurs retaliated. They came out of the plantations and attacked the crowd.

One of the gaurs hit Rajani Roy and Khitish Chandra Roy.

The two were shifted to the district hospital in Alipurduar.

A second gaur injured Sajal Ghosh, another resident.

The third animal entered the courtyard of Bijay Burman and attacked his wife Malati and son Mintu, both of whom got injured.

As villagers rushed them to hospital, more forest staff from different ranges of the Buxa Tiger Reserve reached the spot to rein in the animals.

The animals however, continued to roam around and reached the neighbouring A gaur at Chapatali near Alipurduar; (bottom) another that fell into an abandoned water tank at the village on Monday. Pictures byAnirban Choudhury Dakshin Gnargharia village. On way, one of the animals gored a cow that later died and injured Upen Burman, a villager.

Foresters chased the animals and tried to dart them but failed. At Chapatali, one of the animals fell in an abandoned water tank. Foresters took the chance and tranquilized the animal. It was taken away from the spot.

Soon, they found another gaur nearby and could dart it. The animal returned to the forest after some time on its own.

"Those injured due to the attack will be provided all help. All three animals are back in the forest," said Suvankar Sengupta, field director, Buxa Tiger Reserve..