Bhagalpur, April 9: Residents of nearly a dozen villages in the Suia forest area of Katoria block in Banka district are spending sleepless nights for about a fortnight with a wild elephant going on the rampage.

According to sources, the pachyderm has sneaked into the locality from Dumka district in Jharkhand and damaged standing crops and houses.

“The elephant comes out of the forest after sunset and damages wheat plants in our fields,” said Chanri Devi, a resident of Kataskara hamlet. Sulaman Ansari of Jaruba village said the elephant ate food grains from a room in his house and damaged the building.

“We have to arrange kerosene to lit up torches for chasing away the elephant from our fields,” Jathu Marandi, a resident of Tonapahar hamlet, said.

Residents of villages such as Maniroydhi, Godda, Paharpur, Lohotania, Nabadih, Nonkhar, Bargunia, Bishanpur and Abrakha complain of similar problems.

“Elephant menace is not new for us. Last year, a herd of wild elephants destroyed crops in over 24 villages. We have been repeatedly requesting the administration to prevent the elephants from sneaking into our areas from neighbouring Jharkhand districts. But nothing has happened so far. The forest department has not yet paid any compensation for the losses that we suffered,” Jathu added.

Divisional forest officer (DFO), Banka, Kumar Swami told The Telegraph over phone that an elephant from Dumka recently entered the Suia forest division via Chanan of Banka and created trouble.

“We are planning to seek help from experts from Bankura (Bengal) for chasing away the elephant,” he added.

Swami further said the forest department has recently received about Rs 3 lakh to pay compensation to about 15-20 residents, whose property were damaged by the elephants last year. “It is the first instalment of the compensation. The rest of the victims would get it soon once we receive the second instalment,” the DFO added.

Residents of the forest area under Katoria, Bounsi and Banka ranges, spread across Katoria, Bounsi, Banka, Chandan and Belhar blocks in the districts, have been facing the trouble every year, particularly between March and May. The elephants generally come from districts such as Deoghar, Godda and Dumka in Santhal Pargana of Jharkhand. The animals destroy agricultural products as well as the residents’ property in the vicinity of the forests.

“Easy availability of food and water attracts the elephants to this place every year. After staying in the region for about two to three months, the elephants return to Jharkhand,” said Anil Kumar, a villager.