Baripada, Nov. 21: Wildlife staff members of Rairangpur are encountering a double trouble.

On one hand, an elephant herd that has strayed into the area are staying put, while another adult tusker has been found dead in the Dhusura hills. The dead jumbo's tusks are missing, indicating the role of poachers behind its death.

Rairangpur forest range officer Ashok Das said: "The tusker was found dead on the ridges of the Dhusura hills. Its tusks are missing."

"The death of the elephant must have taken place around five to six days ago as we have found the body in a decomposed state. The autopsy will be carried out - which may give us some clues behind the reason of its death," Das said.

On the other hand, a herd of around 18 pachyderms have entered Rairangpur. Some villagers sensed panic and fled, while some others are taking shelter on treetops.

On the basis of a popular belief, the forest staff members and villagers also performed a puja before a deity at Hathikheda, around 15km from Jamshedpur in neighbouring Jharkhand, to drive away the elephants. But, it apparently did not yield the desired result. The jumbos are wrecking havoc by damaging paddy fields and gorging on crops.

Finding no other means to chase away the herd, the wildlife officials have engaged a trained group to drive them away and are also planning to deploy horses to scare the herd. "We have engaged a trained group. Around 15 people from Tato in Karanjia will try to drive away the elephant herd," said Rairangpur divisional forest officer Arun Kumar Swain.

"The group is doing a good job, and we expect a positive result shortly," Swain said. He also said the death of the tusker is being investigated.

Congress protest

The Sambalpur District Congress Committee today staged a dharna in front of the district collector's office, demanding issuance of ration cards to all eligible persons of the district.

Party workers also demanded supply of essential commodities against old ration cards till the new cards are issued to all those who are eligible.

The Congress workers submitted a memorandum addressed to governor S.C. Jamir through the district collector. Deputy collector Rajesh Agrawal received the memorandum on behalf of the collector and assured the members that he would forward it to the concerned authorities.