Rourkela, Oct. 18: Twelve people, including an assistant sub-inspector of police and a forest department official, were injured when the drive to chase away an elephant herd turned violent with residents on the designated corridor resisting it.

Bondamunda police station's assistant sub-inspector B.N. Bal and forest department employee G. Sahu suffered injuries when the residents pelted stones at them. Ten local residents also suffered minor injuries after the cops retaliated.

The forest department started its drive to steer away the herd last evening. However, they met with opposition from Dumerta and Bandamunda residents, who opposed the route through which the animals were being chased away.

The herd, consisting of eight elephants, including one male and two calves, had crossed the Koel river and walked up to Dalposh, 1km from NIT, Rourkela. The villagers drove away the herd from the other side of the river. The jumbos crossed the river just above Jabaghat and walked to Dalposh before being stranded in the thick vegetation.

Dumerta resident Ashis Pradhan said: "We do not oppose the forest department's move, but the herd should not be driven through our locality as it would cause property loss."

Piyush Munda of Barkani said: "This herd has destroyed a major portion of my standing crop."

Following opposition from the local people, the forest department called Bondamunda police. However, the villagers started pelting stones at the cops and damaged some vehicles. Forest officer P.K. Dhala said: "The villagers did not want the herd to take its designated corridor and they got stuck near Bondamunda. However, we managed to take them to north Chirubeda jungle, which is very close to the corridor. With police help, we will drive them into Saranda forest."

"The residents opposed the movement through their locality and blocked their path. It was tough to make them understand the herd was being driven into Saranda. We cannot blame them as they have already suffered losses because of the herd," he said.

Inspector-in-charge of Bisra police station P.K. Das said: "We did not take strong action to drive away the crowd because there were a lot of protesters and the situation was very chaotic."

Two years ago, a elephant herd had entered Rourkela city. As a result, the thrust was not to let the elephant move towards Rourkela, said Dhala.