Kohima: Sandhya Achaya, the wife of senior Nagaland cadre IPS officer Sunil Achaya, died on Friday after being attacked by a wild elephant on her property in Konankatte near Gonikoppal. The victim was inspecting her estate with her driver and manager when the animal charged the group. While her staff escaped unharmed, Achaya suffered fatal injuries and died at approximately 10:15 a.m.
Kodagu Superintendent of Police Bindu Mani confirmed that local authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The attack has reignited local debates regarding the safety of residents living near forest boundaries. Highlighting the proximity of the Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary, one local planter stated, “Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary is just a stone’s throw from here and how can they not fence the forest area and allow the wild animals to roam around here.’’
This tragedy follows a separate incident in May where a tourist died at the Dubare Elephant Camp, leading to the temporary closure of similar facilities. As human-elephant encounters persist in the region, the government of Karnataka has pledged to collaborate with local representatives to establish long-term solutions for safety and forest management.
Comments