Another life claimed by human- elephant conflict Spouses of victims blame authorities for inaction

By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe - Puttalam   

A resident of Mahakumbukkadawala  had been trampled to death by a wild elephant while passing through the Walpaluwa Forest Reserve. 

The victim was identified as A.H.M.Jayatilleka (60), a father of three children.   

Investigations revealed that he was riding his bicycle along the gravel road by the forest reserve when a jumbo frequenting the road attacked him. His body was recovered on Saturday evening by the residents of the area. Police said it was very rare that a villager took that road running along the boundary at night.   

The villagers including the wife of the victims and two other women whose husbands had been trampled to death before gathered at the scene and accused the authorities of failing to resolve the human elephant conflict in the area.   

The body of the deceased was referred to the JMO of the Puttlam Hospital by Inquirer into Sudden Deaths who held the preliminary inquiry.