KATHMANDU: The government is moving forward with plans to deploy a special task force to protect lives and property from recurring attacks by wild elephants in Jhapa district.
According to House of Representatives member Nisha Dangi, the process of forming the task force has begun following instructions from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
“The Prime Minister’s Office has already directed the concerned agencies to proceed with the process,” Dangi said, adding that the Chief District Officer will coordinate the deployment of the special task force.
The move comes after the death of 62-year-old Padma Paudel, who was killed in a wild elephant attack in the courtyard of her home in Mechinagar-4 last week. The incident triggered demands from local residents for immediate government action to ensure public safety.
Following the tragedy, Dangi and National Assembly member Roshani Meche raised the issue in Parliament, urging the government to take concrete measures to control wild elephant incursions and protect local communities.
According to the proposed plan, the task force will include personnel from the Armed Police Force Nepal, Nepal Police, and armed forest guards. The force will be mobilized under the leadership of the Chief District Officer.
The team is expected to be stationed in Bahundangi, a border area of Mechinagar considered a major entry point for wild elephants crossing into Nepal from India’s Assam and West Bengal states. Herds ranging from 30 to 100 elephants have frequently entered the area, causing damage to property and posing risks to residents.
Dangi said a request has been made for the deployment of around 50 security personnel, although the final size of the task force has yet to be determined.
The announcement has been welcomed by local residents. Mechinagar-4 Ward Chair Arjun Karki said the government’s decision to mobilize security personnel for public safety is encouraging and stressed the need for specially trained personnel to handle elephant-related incidents.
Former Bahundangi Village Development Committee chair Nilkantha Tiwari urged the government to adopt a comprehensive strategy that would prevent elephant herds from entering Nepal from across the border while ensuring long-term security for local communities.
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