A tragic incident of human-wildlife conflict has claimed the life of a farmer in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. In a separate and unrelated event, a villager was murdered in the same region, with police suspecting personal enmity as the motive.
Lonely Farmer Killed by Rogue Elephant
A 62-year-old farmer named Ponnappa was killed by a wild elephant in the remote village of Sangayyanpur, which falls under the Ganaguru gram panchayat of Madikeri taluk. The incident occurred two days ago but was discovered only on Thursday, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Ponnappa lived alone in his house, surrounded by agricultural fields. Authorities stated that the elephant attacked him when he was near his farm. The attack resulted in severe injuries to his head and chest. Tragically, the elephant also killed the farmer's pet dog during the same incident.
The grim discovery was made when concerned locals went to check on Ponnappa after not seeing him for two days. His wife and children, who live in Ballari, were immediately informed. They rushed to the village on Thursday upon receiving the devastating news. Officials from the Somwarpet police and the forest department visited the spot to investigate. Ponnappa is survived by his wife, a son, and two daughters.
Separate Murder Case in South Kodagu
In a disturbing parallel incident in south Kodagu, a 39-year-old villager was killed on Wednesday night. The victim, identified as Nawaz, a resident of Harishchandrapur in Gonikoppal, was found unconscious with injuries near Hathur Kunda Road in Ponnampet taluk.
Police suspect that personal enmity led to the murder. Initial investigations suggest that the perpetrators tried to mislead authorities by making the death look like an accident. Despite being rushed to the Gonikoppal government hospital, Nawaz succumbed to his injuries.
The Gonikoppal police have detained several suspects and are currently interrogating them. Nawaz, who worked as a truck driver, is survived by his wife and daughter. Senior officials, including Virajpet DSP Mahesh Kumar and Gonikoppal circle inspector Shivaraj Mudhol, visited the crime scene.
Ongoing Investigations and Community Impact
These back-to-back tragic events have highlighted two critical issues in the Kodagu region: the escalating human-wildlife conflict and violent crime. The elephant attack underscores the dangers faced by farmers living in areas bordering forests, where such encounters are becoming increasingly common.
Meanwhile, the murder case has put local law enforcement on high alert as they work to unravel the motive and bring the culprits to justice. Both incidents have left families grieving and communities on edge, calling for greater safety measures and effective policing.
