A six-year-old boy died in an elephant attack while his mother suffered serious injuries in Jalpaiguri on Friday late evening.

Supriya Biswakarma, a resident of Natun Colony near Mangalbari market in Matiali block of the district, was returning home from her neighbour’s place around 8.30pm on Friday with her son Bandhan, when a wild elephant attacked them.

The elephant wrapped Bandhan with its trunk and tossed him to the ground. It also attacked Supriya and left the spot.

Her screams alerted people who rushed them to the rural hospital in Mangalbari. However, doctors pronounced the boy dead.

Supriya was referred to the super-specialty hospital in Malbazar where she is being treated.

As the news spread, foresters from the Chalsa forest range and the wildlife squad stationed in Khunia reached the spot. Residents resorted to protests, alleging lack of vigilance on the part of the foresters. Police officers from the Matiali police station rushed to the spot to ensure the situation did not spiral.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have street lights in our area, or the victims could have seen the elephant,” said a protester. “Also, our area is on the fringes of the Gorumara National Park. Yet, foresters hardly come here to check out whether wild elephants or other animals have strayed into our area."

The protests were withdrawn after foresters assured compensation to the bereaved family according to the state’s rules.