Rescued jumbo kills saviour

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: A man who rescued an elephant and its calf that had fallen into a pit in Endagala, Moragollawa, was killed by the elephant yesterday morning.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said police was informed about the wild elephant and its calf which had fallen into a pit near a paddy field in Endagala, Kekirawa yesterday around 11.00 a.m.

“A police team including a Police Sergeant and Wildlife authorities along with villagers rescued the calf and made way for the elephant to come out from the pit,” he added.

“Police urged villagers to move away from the pit, but some did not heed our advice. After the elephant came out of the pit it chased a villager and killed him on the spot and disappeared into the forest,” Gunasekera told the Daily News.

When police shot at the wild elephant, the villagers attacked police and a police sergeant was hospitalised. A suspect was arrested in connection with the incident.