Elephant dies in Lalmonirhat

An elephant succumbed to its injuries today a day after a truck hit it in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat.

The elephant got injured on Lalmonirhat-Burimari road at Milon Bazar yesterday as a stone-laden truck from Burimari land port hit it, reports our local correspondent.

The mahout was allegedly collecting money “extorting” people on the road around noon yesterday, said Prosun Kanti Das, officer-in-charge of Barakhata Highway Police Station.

The accident occurred when the mahout tried to stop the truck with the animal for collecting money but the vehicle hit it without stopping and fled immediately, OC Das said.

The mahout remained unhurt but the elephant received injuries critically.

When contacted, owner of the elephant Tofazzal Hossain of Bogra’s Mahasthangarh said the elephant was hired by Rajmoni Circus in Bogra for a stage performance at Karim Uddin Public Pilot School and College playground in Lalmonirhat’s Kaliganj upazila till December 31 last year.

“I asked the mahout to return it to home by this month,” he added.