Shivamogga:

Workers of the BJP staged a protest in front of the office of the Conservator of Forests in Shivamogga, on Friday, urging the State Government to relocate all wild elephants roaming in the Malnad taluks and ensure the farmers in the area are free from the elephant menace.

Under the leadership of BJP, State vice president and former Minister Hartal Halappa, the workers staged a dharna in front of the office. They raised slogans against the Forest Department officials and alleged that the officers failed to drive away the elephants damaging the standing crops.

Hartal Halappa said that the residents of villages had been living in fear as they could encounter wild elephants anytime. A farmer died in an elephant attack recently. Even after repeated complaints by the farmers, the officers failed to act. He stated that the farmers would launch an indefinite protest if the government did not resolve the problem immediately.

MLC D.S. Arun, former MLA Ashok Naik, district BJP president D. Megharaj, and others took part in the protest.