Villagers block road over wild elephant attacks in Tripura village

Angry over repeated wild elephant attacks and the alleged failure of authorities to provide adequate compensation, residents of Krishnapur area under Teliamura police station blocked the Teliamura–North Maharanipur road under Khowai District on Monday, bringing vehicular movement to a standstill for nearly eight hours.

According to local residents, wild tusker attacks have become a recurring menace in various parts of Teliamura subdivision for several years. 

These attacks have reportedly claimed lives and damaged homes and crops, leaving many families devastated.

Despite repeated assurances from the administration, villagers allege that the promised compensation for affected families has yet to materialize. Frustrated by continued inaction, the residents took to the streets, sitting on the road and demanding justice.

A blockade was staged from morning till late afternoon, severely disrupting transportation and causing significant inconvenience to commuters and nearby residents.

Upon receiving information about the protest, a Deputy Collector and Magistrate (DCM) from the subdivision administration, along with officials from the Forest Department, rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

The protesting villagers made it clear that they would only lift the blockade if they received a written assurance from the administration regarding compensation for the affected families.

Efforts were underway late into the evening to negotiate with the villagers and restore normalcy.

Meanwhile, the prolonged road blockade has caused considerable hardship to the public, highlighting the urgent need for a long-term solution to the persistent human-elephant conflict in the region.