Bangladeshi killed in wild elephant attack in Darjeeling

A 50-year old Bangladeshi tourist was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Dooars, Darjeeling on Friday (January 25).

The deceased was identified as Syed Saimoon Kanak, son of late Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader Noor-e-Alam Ziku. Kanak was JSD's media affairs secretary.

The incident took place at Murti area under Nagarkata Police Station in Dooars. 

Quoting other visitors who witnessed the incident, Shri Ashim Majumdar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Nagarkata Police Station said that some visitors were going to Khuniar forest from Murti in a private car. The car stopped in front of a wild elephant standing on the road at about 5pm.

Three people got out to take pictures.

The OC said that the elephant attacked Kanak as he was the nearest, while the other two managed to flee and take shelter inside the car. Kanak died on the spot.

Police from Nagarkata police station rushed to the spot and recovered the body.

With this incident, in total five people died from elephant attacks between Monday to Friday, OC said.

Sima Choudhury, the honourary wild life warden of Dooars, said, “Though it is prohibited to go near any elephant, tourists violate the rule often, leading to their deaths.”

Kanak and his wife had reached Kolkata on Monday. They went to Darjeeling to visit Dooars forest.

Kushtia district unit JSD president Golam Mohsin said Kanak's body was to be brought home after an autopsy, and he will be buried in Dhaka.