H.D. Kote: A Forest Department staffer was killed when a wild elephant attacked him at D.B. Kuppe Range in Nagarahole Reserve Forest in the taluk on Thursday.

The deceased is T. Raju (45), a resident of Maanimoole Tribal Hamlet in the taluk. He is survived by his wife Kenchamma and children.

At about 11 am yesterday, T. Raju, along with Harish and Raju, all serving as Forest Watchers, were patrolling Kudure Sattalla Beat in Basappana Circle limits of D.B. Kuppe Range, when a wild tusker, which was with a few elephant calves, suddenly attacked the Forest personnel resulting in them running helter-skelter. But the tusker caught hold of T. Raju with its trunk and threw him on the ground with force resulting in him sustaining serious injuries with blood oozing from his nose. He is said to have died on the spot while the other two managed to escape and informed the incident to their higher officers.

Forest officials, who rushed to the spot, conducted inspection and shifted the body to the General Hospital, where post-mortem was conducted and the body was handed over to the family members.

D.B. Kuppe Range Forest Officer (RFO) Hanumantaraju said that the Forest staffer was killed in the wild elephant attack during patrolling and added that efforts have been made to provide compensation to the family of the deceased as per the rules.

Antharasanthe Police Sub-Inspector has registered a case and is investigating.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Kumar, RFO Chandan, Beat Forester Thimma, Police and Forest Staff were present.