Elephant kills one

MYSORE: Forty-two year old Belliyappa often spoke of sending his son to a big city college for higher education because he wanted his son to explore the world. But, too soon, his dreams were trampled by an elephant on Friday.

Belliyappa, a small farmer in Napoklu in Kodagu district, was found dead near his farm here on Friday. He bore all the marks of having been crushed under the mighty feet of an elephant.

Belliyappa, worked hard on the 'Acchyuta farm', which he had taken on lease. He had gone to see his paddy farm in the night, which farmers here often do to ensure their hard labour is not stolen by animals on the sly. He did not return. The household made enquiries and found his body near the farm on the foggy Friday morning.

"We are petrified now and this will remain on our minds for a long time. But how long can we keep away from our work? Nobody cares for us," rued Siddappa, a farmer from Napoklu. Most of the lands here are on the border of Maldur forest range.

His family will get a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh.