DSP meets with accident while trying to save tusker

The deputy superintendent of police of Jalpaiguri had a narrow escape when his car met with an accident while trying to save an elephant from being hit by the vehicle at Khuttimari Forest in Jalpaiguri on Wednesday morning.

The bodyguard of DSP Bidyut Tarafdar and the driver of the car Mahendra Tamang were also injured in the accident. A senior police officer from the district said that the accident took place when Tarafdar was returning after holding a meeting in Nathua Police outpost. The DSP’s car was in a high speed and the driver saw an elephant suddenly come on the road from the midst of the forest. Following the direction of the DSP, the driver did his level best not to hit the elephant. But he failed to control the speeding car and the vehicle overturned after hitting a tree. The DSP with severe injuries managed to come out of the car and contacted the inspector-in-charge of the local police station. Policemen rushed to the spot and rescued all three of them. They were taken to Dhupguri Hospital with severe injuries where they underwent necessary treatment. A police officer said that the DSP and the two others had a narrow escape as in such cases elephants crush vehicles under their feet and a herd of tuskers come out from the forest soon after such incident. But in this case the elephant ran off from the area and within a few minutes policemen from the local police station and forest department officials had reached the spot.