Sringeri bandh over elephant attacks gets good response

Chikkamagaluru: The Sringeri bandh, called by various farmers' associations to protest against elephant attacks, received an overwhelming response on Monday. The bandh was observed in Koppa, NR Pura, and Kandya Hobli, which come under Sringeri constituency.The wild elephant problem was rampant in this region, as a total of 13 people have lost their lives due to wild animal attacks in a year. However, nine elephants were captured to prevent the conflict, but the problem continues.Farmers, traders, autorickshaw organisations, and others supported the bandh by staying away from business for a day. Not only towns, but rural areas also observed the bandh.A massive protest was held at Balehonnur. Political party functionaries, planters, and others participated in large numbers and condemned Sringeri MLA TD Rajegowda of Congress and the police for treating protesters badly and for resorting to lathicharge during a protest in the aftermath of the death of a farm labourer due to a jumbo.However, no untoward incidents were reported in the region during the bandh. The district police has beefed up security across the assembly segment.Vishwanath Gaddemane, president, Sringeri Kshetra Raita Okkutta, said the MLA and the district administration did not respond appropriately to protesting farmers. "What occurred yesterday was a conflict between the farmers and the govt. Now, to cover up their failure, the MLA irresponsibly stated that it was a clash between two factions of the BJP," he stated.Blaming the MLA, former minister DN Jeevaraj said the police resorted to lathicharge in front of the MLA. The death of the woman was murder, he said. The MLA tried to assault a protester for demanding justice, Jeevaraj said. However, the MLA said the death of the woman was unfortunate.The Chikkamagaluru district police have registered a case against 20 people—mostly planters and farmers—who took part in a protest targeting the govt and the forest department on Sunday.Thousands had gathered in Kadabagere after a woman was trampled to death by a wild elephant. Based on a complaint filed by Balehonnur sub-inspector Ambareesh, police booked Chandrashekhar Rai and others for allegedly obstructing officials from performing their duty by stopping the vehicle carrying the victim's body.According to the complaint, when the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and forest officials arrived at the spot to hand over a compensation cheque to the deceased woman's family, a group of 40–50 people began shouting and demanded ₹50 lakh instead of the announced Rs 20 lakh. They allegedly pushed police personnel and refused to release the body despite the victim's relatives pleading to proceed with the last rites. The group also shouted slogans and pelted stones, the complaint stated.During the confrontation, several officers—including DSP Rekha and Koppa PSI Madhu—were injured. The crowd also allegedly tried to overturn a DAR vehicle, the complaint added.