SM Suman Rashid:
Extortion by using elephants has been seen in Amtali, Barguna. On the orders of the mahout sitting on the back of the elephant, this extortion is seen being collected from passengers and drivers of vehicles plying on the roads of the upazila by showing Laxman Das’ elephant. He has alleged that extortion is also being collected from traders and pedestrians in the market. This has angered local traders and the common people.
Today, Tuesday (February 17) afternoon, an elephant was seen walking on the road, including Bandhghat, Battala and E-School Road in Amtali Municipality. And this Laxman Das is extorting hundreds of taka from the common people in a unique way. He is not only taking money. He is also taking 10 taka and 5 taka from children by threatening them.
In this, the guardians of the students, drivers, pedestrians, and all the shop employees and owners of the jute shops complained.
At the signal of a mahout sitting on its back, the elephant blocks the road and pushes its trunk in front of the passengers and drivers when it sees a vehicle moving on the road. If you do not put money in the head of the trunk, it does not move its trunk. Starting from 10 taka to 100 taka, the mahout is threatening people by hitting the elephant’s head if you do not give money. At one stage, he is extorting hundreds of taka by using a novel tactic of taking money by force.
In addition, the mahout is going from one shop to another in various markets including Sadar Upazila and collecting money with the elephant.
After collecting money from the shop, he stops the car on the road or street and collects the money, creating traffic jams.
Moreover, pedestrians and students are not able to pass through the road where the elephant is passing due to fear. Especially, children of residents living around the road have been seen getting scared due to such actions of the elephant.
Sabina Yasmin, mother of Risad, a child who is a student at the madrasa, said, “I take my child to Amtali Qawmi Madrasa regularly. On the way, a huge elephant sticks its trunk in front of me. It wouldn’t move until I gave it money. Later, I put 10 taka on its trunk and left. The children are trembling with fear.”
At the Amtali E-School stand, a motorcycle driver, Md. Suman, said, “Sometimes a gang brings elephants from somewhere and collects extortion. Extortion is collected from every shop. If you don’t give money, the elephant doesn’t move. Sometimes it starts vandalizing again. So I give it away with whatever I can.”
Elephant mahout Rahim said, “This is Lakshman Das’ elephant. It costs a lot to raise this elephant. So we are forced to collect some money from people. We don’t force money from anyone. Whoever gives it to them, doesn’t do it.”
Amtali Upazila Executive Officer Md. Ashraful Alam said that action will be taken if anyone complains about extortion using elephants.
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