Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Thursday directed Forest officials to hand over a compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the family of a 29-year-old woman labourer, Meena, who was killed in an attack by wild elephants in the Chikkamagaluru district on Wednesday. The incident took place in the district’s Hedadalu area in Mudigere. Meena was trampled by the elephant in a coffee plantation when she and four others were preparing to have breakfast at the plantation. The CM held an emergency meeting with the senior officers of Karnataka Police and officials of the Forest department over the woman’s death. “The CM has given a clear instruction to the district administration to immediately take necessary action to send back the wild elephants to the forest. He also spoke to the protestors over the phone and said instructions have been given to take all necessary measures to avoid elephant attacks. The Forest Minister (Eshwar Khandre) will also arrive soon and hold a meeting regarding the action. Wild elephants are entering coffee plantations which are adjacent to the forest areas,” a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said. Siddaramaiah said that he has spoken with Khandre and has asked him to direct the elephant task force to take necessary measures, including expediting the installation of railway fencing. In September, Khandre had said that the government has allocated Rs 100 crore to complete the works of railway barricading. Responding to the insistence of protestors who demanded that wild elephants be shot dead, Siddaramaiah asked them not to take such steps as the Forest officials have been instructed to take effective measures.
