Bhubaneswar: Angry locals blocked the New Jagannath Road on Saturday after a 35-year-old man was trampled to death by a tusker at Khadipadar village under Jankia police station limits in Khordha district late on Friday night.
The deceased was identified as Shankar Routray alias Habula, an electrician by profession and a resident of Khadipadar village.
According to reports, the incident took place when Shankar was returning home on his bicycle after visiting the local market. A tusker suddenly emerged on the road and attacked him, causing fatal injuries.
Villagers said Shankar died on the spot. His body was later found mutilated. Hearing about the incident, locals rushed to the area, following which the elephant retreated into the nearby forest.
On Saturday morning, irate villagers staged a protest, blocking the New Jagannath Road and burning tyres to vent their anger. They demanded adequate compensation for the victim’s family and immediate steps to prevent recurring man-animal conflict in the area.
The protest led to massive traffic snarls, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road for several hours.
Police and forest department officials rushed to the spot and held discussions with the protesters to restore normalcy.
