Croc kills schoolboy in Odisha

Odisha Channel Bureau Kendrapara, May 22: Man-animal conflict is back on the spotlight yet again in Bhitarkanika National Park-side human settlements with croc assault claiming the life of a 15-year-old schoolboy in this coastal Odisha district.Tragedy struck Nalapari village lying on the fringes of Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary on Wednesday afternoon as Manoranjan Sahu, son of a daily wage earner, was dragged into swirling Brahmani River water.The mishap took place when the victim, 10th standard student of government-run Eakamani high school, was taking bath to beat the sweltering heat.Local villagers who were taking bath at the ghat remained spectators as reptile pulled the boy into water in no time.Before anybody could react, everything was over.We are searching for his body.Forest personnel are yet to arrive at the spot.For them the animals are more precious than the human life, rued a local resident Rajendra Behera. Panic-stricken villagers are anguished a lot.People feel that their safety has been jeopardized in the wake of frequent acts of trespassing by wild animals into village areas.We are in danger.Under compelling circumstances, we will be forced to kill crocs.People are aware of the fact that killing of animals is an offence.But they are left with little option to save themselves from animals’ fury as forest department has closed its eyes to the menace, remarked cross-section villagers.Forest personnel however are of the view that people are exposing themselves to croc attack by venturing into croc-infested water bodies.The locals are mostly found disregarding the precautionary warning, commented a forest official.“The forest department has initiated a series of measures to save human and domesticated animals’ lives from preying crocs.Around fifty riverside spots were identified as danger zones because of frequent sighting of reptiles in these places.Warning has been issued to people to avoid these troubled water zones.The bathing ghats which have become vulnerable due to croc intrusion have been barricaded.Service groups have also been pressed into service to drive away crocs from places of human habitation,” Divisional Forest Officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya said.