Ranchi, Feb 19: The rising number of deaths due to elephant attacks triggered sharp protests in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on Thursday, with Mandu MLA Nirmal Mahto staging a sit-in demonstration and accusing the state government of failing to address the escalating human-animal conflict.
Mahto, a legislator from the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), held a banner on the Assembly steps and alleged gross negligence by the government and the Jharkhand Forest Department in monitoring elephant movement and preventing casualties.
He claimed that over 23 people have lost their lives in recent elephant attacks across the state, with herds frequently entering villages and urban areas, causing deaths and property damage.
“A government that claims to protect ‘Jal, Jungle, aur Zameen’ has failed to safeguard natural resources,” Mahto alleged, linking the growing conflict to illegal coal and iron ore mining and night-time blasting that have disturbed elephant habitats.
The MLA also criticised the current ex gratia compensation of ₹4 lakh for victims’ families, calling it “grossly inadequate,” and demanded that it be increased to ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh. He further sought government jobs for one member of each affected family and proper rehabilitation, alleging that only token assistance was being provided.
Mahto urged the government to introduce a comprehensive policy, including scientific monitoring of elephant corridors, strict action against illegal mining, and a time-bound rehabilitation plan.
The protest follows a recent incident in Hazaribagh district where six people were killed in an elephant attack. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has since directed officials to strengthen monitoring and take measures to prevent further human casualties.
The issue dominated proceedings in the Assembly, with legislators demanding urgent and effective intervention to curb the growing human-elephant conflict in the state.
