In Maoist heartland, elephants kill more than guns
In the Maoist heartland of Jharkhand, more civilians are dying in elephant attacks than at the hands of left-wing extremists, comparative figures in the last two years have revealed.
Jumbos killed more people than the Maoists in 2015 and are a close second to the rebels in 2016-17.
As per government records, Jharkhand elephants killed 66 people in 2015-16 while 57 died in attacks by Maoists. In 2016-17, Maoists claimed 61 lives while pachyderms killed 42 up to February 28, 2017.
Forest officials said the final figure for people killed by wild elephants till March 31, which is still being calculated, might cross 50.
The tribal state has lost 1,768 civilians in Maoist violence as well as man-elephant conflict. Of the total, 589 people were killed by wild elephants, and man-elephant conflicts have been increasing in the recent past. On an average, elephants killed 59 people every year in the last one decade. ››P7