Villagers still in panic as killer elephant yet to be sent back

Panic still haunts the villagers as the circus elephant that trampled three people to death in Garfa, Kahalpur, and Basabari villages in Mollahat upzila under the district remained shackled at a garden in Basabari village.

The people are still in panic as the elephant had attacked villagers on Saturday, after tearing off its chains, Md Faruk Mollah, chairman of Atjuri Union Parishad, said yesterday.

"Policemen have been kept on guard around the bamboo garden where the elephant is chained. The owner has been asked to take it away from here," said ANM Khairul Anam, officer-in-charge of Mollahat Police Station.

On Saturday, the elephant broke its chains at Ghonapara upazila under Gopalganj Sadar upazila and entered Mollahat around 5:30am, crossing the Madhumati River.

The elephant went into an orgy of destruction, killing Monwara Begum, Kusum Biswas, and Mizanur Rahman Fakir at Garfa, Kahalpur and Basabari villages respectively.

Hearing the news, the elephant's mahout Mohammad Faruk rushed to the village and managed to calm it down with the help of locals.

Motiar Rahman of Sreemangal upazila in Moulvibazar district is the owner of the male elephant and its female companion that are hired to circus groups, Faruk said.

The three victims were buried yesterday.