Tamil Nadu Man Attacked By Rogue Tusker 'Arikomban' In Cumbum, Dies

Tamil Nadu forest department have also formed a five-member tribal team to track 'Arikomban' since the officials have not tracked the tusker yet. 

Arikomban is famous for its love of rice and frequent raids on ration shops

Source : File photo

A 56-year-old man, who was receiving treatment after rogue tusker 'Arikomban' attacked him, died in Theni district on Tuesday. The victim was undergoing treatment since Saturday. 

According to PTI, Paulraj, a Cumbum native, sustained injuries in an attack by 'Arikomban'. When 'Arikomban' entered and ransacked the Cumbum village, the jumbo damaged properties and attacked Paulraj while he was driving his two-wheeler. 

Paulraj was receiving treatment at Theni Medical College Hospital since Saturday. Against this backdrop, Paulraj died on early Tuesday. 

The people of Cumbum town carried out protests after the death of Paulraj in Government Theni Medical College Hospital. 

The tusker also reportedly injured two others in Cumbum. Several autos were damaged in the rampage. A visual of Arikomban creating havoc also went viral on social media. 

Forest Dept Forms Five-Member Team To Track 'Arikomban' 

Tamil Nadu forest department formed a five-member tribal team to track 'Arikomban' since the officials have not tracked the tusker yet. 

The team will include Meen Kalan, Bomman, Suresh, Shiva and Sreekanth. It will also have a veterinary doctor Rajesh. 

The team from the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve will reach Theni on Tuesday to trace the elephant. ‘Arikomban’ was last detected near the Shanmukhanada river within 3 km from human settlement.

In order to tranquilize and relocate the elephant, a 150-member crew from the forest department is already camped up in Cumbum town. However, it is still challenging to tranquilize the elephant since it is traveling deeper into the forest.

Last month, the elephant Arikomban—famous for its love of rice and frequent raids on ration stores—strayed into the border town of Cumbum on Saturday after being relocated to Kerala's Periyar Tiger Reserve.