Baghdadi may be dead, Laden is alive in Assam

Dreaded terrorist Baghdadi may be dead but in Assam  “Laden” is still alive and remained a “killing machine” and so far killed nearly 56 people forcing even Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal to intervene.

Laden is an adult male elephant abandoned by its own herd for his foul and aggressive behaviours and since then Laden has been the terror in Goalpara killing people at will.

Last Wednesday five more were trampled to death at Koiakuchi forest once gain opening the man-animal conflict.

Hardcore elephants lovers argue that it was the man who had gone into the habitat of the elephant inviting trouble, but general people are regularly protesting demanding immediate death to Laden.

It crushed to death a 70-year old man on Tuesday and injured a child in Bataitari village of the district, the officials said. Another 11-year-old was killed in Santipurnigam, while three women were trampled to death in Paschim Matia, Hidhabari and Hahsorabri villages since Tuesday night, they said.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has announced an ex-gratia of Rs four lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the attack.

The Goalpara forest division has called on the higher authorities to declare the bull-elephant as ‘rogue’. The pachyderm has trampled to death more than 50 people during the last few years, the forest officials claimed.

The tranquilization is not an answer and the elephant can be killed only after being declared rogue.

According to elephant expert, K K Sarma, ‘Laden’ was thrown out of his herd around two years ago, after a likely quarrel with its most dominant male member.

The forest official said the department suspects Laden to be behind the death of 56 people since 2016 when he walked down from Garo hills in Meghalaya to make Goalpara forest having an area of 343 sq kilometre his home.

“He attacks mostly in the late evenings, or night,” said an official. Goalpara shares a contiguous forest with the Garo Hills and movement of elephants is common.

The problem started when villagers on the border panic and try to drive the elephants back to Assam. “When the villagers spot herds, they start shouting, beating the drums, creating panic among jumbos, which sometimes leads to retaliation,” Goswami said.

.“The pattern shows after every attack he goes untraceable for 10-15 days,” the forest official said, adding that most attacks happen towards the end of the month.

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