CrPC Section 144 to safeguard elephants that entered a locality in Cooch Behar district on Thursday

In the evening, foresters formed teams to guide the elephants to the forest, said sources

The elephant herd that reached Matalhat at Dinhata subdivision of Cooch Behar on Thursday: Picture by Main Uddin Chisti

TT Correspondent, Cooch Behar, 03.11.23 : A herd of wild elephants entered a locality in Cooch Behar district on Thursday and roamed around in farms, drawing hundreds of onlookers who frantically chased the herd, some on cars and bikes, for a glimpse of the animals.

A person who ventured too close was attacked and injured by an elephant.

The situation reached such an extent that the administration had to clamp prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144.

In the evening, foresters formed teams to guide the elephants to the forest, said sources.

Sources said that on Thursday morning, residents spotted a herd of six elephants in the Bhutkura-Laxmir Bazar area under Matalhat panchayat of Dinhata-I block.

“The herd had walked into an agricultural field and devoured paddy ready for harvest. We had never heard of elephants entering our area. Earlier, we have seen elephants in circuses but this is the first time that we saw wild elephants so closely,” said Prafulla Barman, a resident of Matalhat.

As the news spread, a team of foresters from Cooch Behar forest division and police reached the spot.

“It seems the herd, which has two calves, has come from Jaldapara National Park. Our men are keeping a watch on the herd’s movement and also stopping people from getting closer. In the evening, we will try to steer the herd into the forest,” said Bijon Kumar Nath, the additional divisional forest officer.

Jaldapara, the largest rhino habitat in Bengal also known for its elephant population, is located some 60km from Matalhat.

As the day rolled on, more and more people started gathering for a glimpse of the elephants, mostly with smartphones to click photos and shoot videos, much to the inconvenience of foresters and the police.

Resident Harendranath Barman got injured as he moved too close to the herd and an elephant attacked him. He was admitted to Dinhata subdivisional hospital.

“Along with residents of nearby villages, hundreds reached the place in bikes and cars from other parts of the district. Such huge crowds made it tough for foresters to monitor the herd’s movement or initiate the process of steering the elephants back to the forest.

“The police found it difficult to control the crowd as it swelled every hour,” said Manabendra Nath Roy, the pradhan of Matalhat panchayat.

Eventually, the subdivisional officer of Dinhata issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC to stop the movement of vehicular traffic and assembly of people in Bhutkura, Gotamari, Bholka-Putimari and Kharija-Borodanga areas of the panchayat area.

“The order will be in force until all the elephants are sent back to the forest,” said an official.