A wild tusker went on a rampage in a police camp in western Dooars on Saturday night as the policemen posted in the camp helplessly watched the damage.

The incident happened at a camp of the 10th battalion of the state armed police in Khuttimari, on the fringes of a forest under Banarhat police station of Jalpaiguri. “Policemen heard a rustling sound. Soon, a wild elephant attacked the camp. They were armed but had no option but to watch the animal damaging goods,” said a forester.

The elephant, he said, damaged the kitchen. It used its trunk to pull down the gas oven and damaged utensils.“We were perplexed as the elephant damaged the entire kitchen. It broke a window and extended its trunk inside. Some of us clicked photos while others informed the forest range office in Moraghat,” said a policeman.

A team from the range office came and burst sound crackers that made the tusker return to the forest.“Elephant attacks are common in the Terai and Dooars. But in recent times, this is the first time that a police camp has been attacked. Cops have been asked to be alert as elephants often return to the same place in search of fodder,” said a forest official.