Hassan:  A tusker was killed by a speeding train near Kakanamane in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district last night. It is learnt that the tusker was crossing the Railway track to return to the forest when the Karwar-Bengaluru Passenger Train rammed into it.

There are about 30 elephants which roam around in this area and the residents of Sakleshpur and Alur had staged a protest last week urging the authorities to relocate the elephants. Considering their request, the Government had assured of installing barricades using Railway tracks at the forest borders. But still the elephants were found roaming freely at Chittalli village in Balupete creating a sense of fear among the villagers.

Meanwhile, the Forest officials, who rushed to the spot, are investigating the cause of the tusker’s death. Earlier in June 3, two elephant calves were killed when a goods train hit them near Yedakumari bridge in Sakleshpur taluk and now a tusker is killed by a passenger train.

Meanwhile, the villagers have urged the officials concerned to stop man-animal conflicts in the region and also stop the deaths of wild animals. They have urged the Government to install railway barricades around the forest border and help human beings and wild animals live peacefully.

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