Team Herald
VALPOI: Agitated over 23-year-old pillion rider’s death in an accident reported at Shel Melavli due to the movement of a wild bison in the area, the villagers from Shel Dhada and Guleli on Monday blocked the main road near the panchayat.
Pujan Melekar was killed in an accident reported at Shel Melavli, Valpoi when she was on the way to her office on her brother Omkar Melekar’s motorcycle.
The villagers had called the forest officials to the village and when the officers arrived, around 400 irate locals tried to vent their anger at them but the local MLA Vishwajit Rane intervened and pacified the villagers
Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kuldeep Sharma assured the locals to keep two forest guards on duty in the village. He informed that the department will locate the whereabouts of these bisons and relocate them.
The villagers refused to take the body of Pujan Melekar however Health Minister Vishwajit Rane finally managed to convince the locals.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane called for steps to stop the bisons from creating nuisance in the village by tranquillising and relocating them to a wildlife sanctuary.
“I was unhappy with the insensitive approach adopted by the DCF and have informed him that I will take up this issue with the Chief Minister in public interest. We have already lost two lives within one and a half month and we cannot afford to lose more. The people are agitated and this needs to be resolved by the officials,” he added.
