Jumbo tramples its mahout in Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

GUWAHATI: An Assam forest department elephant, used in safari service, trampled its mahout to death in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary this afternoon.

The mahout has been identified as Raju Das, 28, of Diprang village in Morigaon district. He is survived by his wife and a baby boy.

Forest department sources here said the mahout died on the spot when the elephant – named Vikram -- suddenly turned violent and attacked him in a forest area.

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The cause of the jumbo’s sudden violent behaviour was yet to be ascertained, the sources said, adding that the elephant has past records of attacking mahouts.

Das, a casual labourer, was engaged as mahout in the sanctuary few months ago.