Elephant attack in Bharatiyar University campus, security guard killed

CHENNAI: A security guard was killed by a wild elephant on the Coimbatore campus of Bharatiyar University. Shanmukhan, a native of Coimbatore was killed in the attack while trying to drive away the elephant that had entered the campus near the forest border. Suresh Kumar, a security guard who was with Shanmukhan was injured in the elephant attack and is undergoing treatment.

After the attack, Tamil Nadu Forest Department officials chased the elephant out of the campus. However, the elephant returned within half an hour and is now stationed at the forest border. Coimbatore Forest staff remain on alert on the campus.

Last April, a farmer was attacked and killed by a wild elephant in Pathanamthitta. The farmer, Biju, a resident of Vattappara was killed by a wild elephant in Thulappally, Pathanamthitta while trying to drive it away after it had destroyed his crops.

Biju was killed at half past midnight. He and his wife came outside after hearing the sound of a coconut tree being hit by the elephant in the neighbouring house. While trying to run away, the elephant turned around, grabbed Biju by its trunk and knocked him to the ground. Locals came running after hearing the screams of Biju's wife. Initially, the locals did not allow the body to be moved but after the District Collector came and held a discussion, they relented.