Dhenkanal, June 8: A five-member expert team was dispatched from Satkosia wild life division to Kamakhyanagar to capture an elephant that has killed 10 people in the last one year in Kamakhyanagar and Bhuban forest range areas under Dhenkanal forest division.

According to latest reports, on Monday the elephant killed three members of a family and injured one at Thuriasandha village under Bhuban range while they were asleep in their thatched house.

There is visible panic and anger among the people as the elephant appears to have become a rogue and has been showing extreme hostile behaviour. What makes matters worse is that the animal has developed a habit of striking at night.

“We have to capture the elephant before it takes more lives,” said regional chief conservator of forest of Angul circle, Pandab Behera, adding, “Last year efforts were made by the forest department squad to track the animal but it had disappeared into the forest, but this time we will leave “no chance to tranquillise, and then capture it.”

“If we succeed in capturing the elephant, we will keep it under custody either at Kapilas or at Nandankanan,” said Behera.

“The team located the elephant at Pipalai forest last night. Today, the team visited the forest to monitor its movement. All precautions have to be taken before tranquillising it,” said divisional forest officer of Dhenkanal, S.K. Dalei.