Minister Eshwar Khandre orders capturing of three elephants in Belur after woman's death
Bengaluru, Mar 15 (PTI): In response to escalating human-elephant conflicts in Bikkodu, Arehalli, and surrounding areas of Belur taluk of Karnataka, Minister Eshwar B Khandre ordered on Saturday to capture the three aggressive elephants terrorising locals.
The Forest, Ecology, and Environment minister directed the establishment of an immediate Elephant Task Force (ETF) office in the area and the deployment of a Deputy Conservator of Forests-rank officer to oversee operations.
He held an emergency meeting with forest officials at Vikas Soudha, following the death of a woman in an elephant attack at a plantation on March 14. Khandre instructed authorities to procure two thermal camera-equipped drones for the Hassan range to monitor elephant movements round-the-clock and alert residents promptly.
Given the severity of elephant-related issues, Khandre mandated the deployment of two additional jeeps and more staff for emergency response teams. He emphasised swift action upon receiving alerts about elephant movements.
In a press release issued by the minister's office, he also ordered awareness campaigns for Belur residents, and plantation workers to mitigate risks. These will focus on elephant behaviour, precautionary measures during encounters, and safety protocols for dawn and dusk movements, added the release.
Plantation owners must collaborate in organising village-level public meetings to educate communities, said the minister.
Khandre stressed timely monthly salaries, food allowances, uniforms, shoes, jackets, and insurance for ETF and outsourced staff. He also called for providing walkie-talkies in areas with poor mobile connectivity to ensure seamless communication.
Additional Chief Secretary Anjum Parvez, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Meenakshi Negi, Chief Wildlife Conservator Subhash Malkhade, and other senior officials participated in the review.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
