A vegetable vendor cycling on a state highway was killed by a wild elephant while he was crossing a stretch of the Moraghat forest in Jalpaiguri district on Thursday evening.
Sources said Aparesh Sarkar, 56, and Harekrishna Mridha — residents of Duramari in Banarhat block — were on their way to Gayerkata along the state highway via Nathuahat to sell vegetables.
"While crossing a stretch of the Moraghat forest on a bicycle, an elephant waylaid the duo. The animal wrapped Sarkar with its trunk and tossed him to the ground. It also attacked Mridha," said a source.
As the spot was deserted, Sarkar and Mridha remained there for some time. Later, local people and forest department personnel took the two to the rural hospital in Dhupguri where Sarkar was pronounced dead.
The foresters said if the attack happened on the road, the deceased man’s family would be given compensation according to the rules.
Leopard found dead
The carcass of a leopard was found in the Paschim Batabari area in the Matiali block of Jalpaiguri district on Thursday. The animal had injury marks.
A team from the Khunia wildlife squad reached the spot and took away the body. The foresters are waiting for post-mortem report to know the cause of the leopard's death.