Assam: Protest erupts at Kaliabor's forest office after wild elephant kills woman

A 30-year-old woman, Sangita Ser, was trampled to death by a wild elephant in the courtyard of her home late last night at Bor Line, Kaliabor Tea Estate in Silghat.

The incident sparked widespread outrage among local residents. Early this morning, workers from Kaliabor and Sonari tea estates stopped work and staged a protest outside the Silghat Forest Range Office. Demonstrators demanded immediate protection from wild animal attacks, adequate compensation for victims and their families, and accountability for alleged irregularities in the installation of power fencing.

The protest brought together hundreds of tea estate workers and villagers, who accused authorities of failing to take adequate preventive measures against recurring human-elephant conflicts in the area. They also voiced concerns about lapses in wildlife management and the lack of timely intervention.

Officials, including the Sub-Divisional Officer, Executive Magistrate, Forest Range Officer of Shalna, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Kaliabor Police, and the Divisional Forest Officer of Nagaon, were present at the Forest Range Office during the protest to address public grievances.

Human-elephant conflicts have been on the rise in Kaliabor and surrounding regions, with habitat loss and encroachment often cited as contributing factors.