Ulikkal: The preliminary findings of the Kerala forest department confirms that the man found dead here was killed in a brutal attack by the wild jumbo, which had spread panic in the Ulikkal village in Kannur until this morning. A team of forest officials and police finally emerged successful in shooing away the  pachyderm across the border, to the Karnataka forests, on Thursday morning (Oct 12). The residents of Ulikkal are finally breathing a sigh of relief. 

Athrassery Jose, a native of  Nellikkampoyil, had ventured outside his home yesterday morning, upon hearing the news of the jumbo menace in the village. He was among the scores of villagers witnessing the wild tusker roaming aimlessly on the village roads the other day. Tension engulfed the region as officials tried to scare away the wild jumbo by bursting crackers. In retaliation, the elephant moved violently across the bushes in the region, while the villagers ran for their lives. Jose was at a churchyard in the region. While others managed to find safe places for themselves, the miffed wild jumbo is likely to have crossed paths with Jose.

Ulikkal is a village that is located 12 kms away from the Karnataka forests. The deceased man’s family had alerted the neighbourhood as he failed to reach home by yesterday night (Oct 11). Jose’s body was discovered this morning in a distraught shape. There were injuries all over the body, and one of his hands was found detached from his body.

The schools and shops in the region had remained shut yesterday following the elephant menace. Six other individuals were injured in the elephant mayhem.