An elderly woman, Manimala Debbarma, aged 70, was fatally trampled by a wild elephant in Tripura’s Khowai district at Jumbari village. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday in the courtyard of her house. The attack led to unrest in the area as locals were deeply disturbed by the tragic event.
The victim’s son, Ajit Debbarma, recounted that the elephant suddenly attacked his mother, resulting in her demise. The violent death of the woman caused widespread anger among the residents, escalating the situation into a tense and volatile state. Eyewitnesses reported a chaotic scene resembling a battleground.
Following the woman’s death, enraged locals not only attacked the local forest office but also targeted a journalist and the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) who were investigating the incident. The SDFO sustained injuries during the violence, while the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) had to flee to avoid the escalating mob fury. The police present at the scene were criticized for their passive role during the chaos.
The Sub-Divisional Forest Officer and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Teliamura subdivision jointly announced that compensation, totaling Rs 5 lakh, would be provided promptly as per government regulations. Measures, including securing the area with solar electric fencing and trenches, will be implemented to prevent future incidents. Efforts to relocate the problematic elephant and regularize volunteers will also be expedited.
