Retaliatory attack? Jumbo kills 2 villagers near Bandhavgarh

BHOPAL: : Two villagers were trampled to death by a wild elephant outside the boundaries of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. The two villagers, whose identities were yet to be ascertained, had gone to attend nature’s call when they were killed. The act is being perceived as retaliatory behaviour, as the incident occurred approximately 25 km from the area where 10 wild elephants of a herd of 13 died over three days between Oct 29 and 31. Officials believe the elephant responsible for the villagers’ deaths belongs to the same herd. A suspected toxin produced by fungus-infected kodo grain was identified as the likely cause behind the tragic deaths of 10 elephants