Karnataka Minister rushes back from Bengaluru to meets protesters late at night over death in elephant attack
The Hindu
Manu, 32, died in an elephant attack on November 1 at Hebbanahalli in Hassan district
Excise Minister K. Gopalaiah met the people staging a protest over the death of a 32-year-old man in an elephant attack at Hebbanahalli past midnight on November 1 and promised a special meeting with the Chief Minister to discuss the issue.
Following the death of Manu, 32, in the elephant attack on November 1 morning, elected representatives and farmers staged a protest with the dead body. They demanded that the Minister, who is in charge of the district, visit the spot. However, the Minister had left for Bengaluru after participating in the Karnataka Rajyotsava programme in Hassan. The protest continued till late in the night.
The Minister reached the village past midnight and conveyed his condolences to the family of Manu. He interacted with Sakleshpur MLA H.K. Kumaraswamy and former MLA H.M. Vishwanath, who led the protest.
The Minister said he went to Bengaluru to speak to the CM on the issue. “I have brought the issue to his notice. So far, 77 persons have died due to elephant attacks in Hassan district. In the last two years, 11 people have died. The government is aware of the gravity of the problem,” he said.
The State Government has already written to the Centre to shift or relocate elephants in a phased manner. The CM would visit Delhi and meet the Minister concerned to get the clearance.
“All 80-90 elephants cannot be shifted at a time. It has to be done in a phased manner. The work on putting up a barricade will go on simultaneously. A team of senior officers will visit the elephant-affected areas and submit a report. Later, the CM will hold a meeting with officers, elected representatives and farmers from the region to find a solution,” he said.
Further, the Minister said the State Government had agreed to enhance compensation for the victims from ₹7.5 lakh to ₹15 lakh. The file is in the Finance Department.
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