In another tragic case of human-elephant conflict, a resident of Thalot village in Tirap district was killed by a wild elephant within his home on the night of 31 July. This marks the third such fatal incident in a month. On 9 July, former MLA Kapchen Rajkumar lost his life during a morning walk after being trampled by an elephant. More recently, on 28 July, a 46-year-old tea garden worker, Dhiren Tati, was killed inside his home in Aghuripather, between Namsang and Deomali.
Deomali Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Chimoy Simai visited Thalot village to meet the victim’s family and assess the situation. He highlighted the department’s challenges, including staff shortages and difficulties in monitoring elephants at night in dense forests. Measures like 24/7 patrolling, distributing firecrackers, and compensation for damages have been initiated. Proposals for surveillance towers, elephant trenches, and fencing are also underway.
Simai advised residents to avoid leaving food waste near homes and suggested planting king chilli plants as a deterrent. An emergency coordination meeting is planned with local leaders and officials. Deomali ZPM Wangphoon Lowang voiced concern, calling for swift action to identify the rogue elephant and prevent further casualties.
