‘Laden’ died a year ago: Parimal Suklabaidya

Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya on Wednesday said thataccording to a survey by the forest department, the elephant which wasterrorizing in Goalpara district was not 'Laden' and that it died last yearitself.

The elephant which was terrorizing in the district and killed fivepeople is a different elephant which was separated from its herd.

Addressing a press conference here, Suklabaidya said, "The forest department has neglected some time and the steps which need to be taken to keep alive the animals have not been done for which the man-animal conflict is in the rise."

Talking about the elephant which created terror in Goalpara, theminister said that the forest department has some limitations and so as thepeople for which it takes time to grab the elephant.

The minister also urged the people to think about the animals and askedthem not to occupy forest areas and hills in order to keep safe the animals.

When asked about the forest department whether they failed to grasp the elephant, Suklabaidya said that they have not failed and that they had a discussion with the experienced people and also the forest department has called upon Padma Hazarika to catch the elephant. He said that they have used the drone to identify the elephant.

However, the minister has said that the achievement goes jointly to thepeople, forest department and Padma Hazarika but the forest department shouldalso be praised for this step.