Villagers of Puruna Deogaon under the Karanjia Forest Division in Mayurbhanj district detained a Forester and several contractual employees of the Forest Department over an issue pertaining to damage caused by elephants in the locality.
Dari Forester Parshuram Besra and eight staffs had gone to the nearby forest on Tuesday night after getting information regarding incursion of elephants. They met the villagers who held the department and its officers responsible for the elephant menace in the area. The villagers alleged that the officers were not taking adequate steps to ward off the pachyderms while the department was delaying the release of compensation in the cases of damage caused by the elephants.
The matter turned ugly as the locals detained the staffs demanding fulfilment of their demands, including transfer of the Forester.
Being informed about the incident, the Dudhiani Ranger reached the village on Wednesday morning and held discussions with the villagers. However, the locals said they would release the detainees only after getting assurance regarding their demands from the Ranger and the DFO.
