Ramgarh extortion with elephants!

Ramgarh (Khagrachhari) Correspondent: Elephants are being extorted with elephants at various haat bazaars on the Feni-Khagrachhari road and even at the UP level. Going to the front of the shop in different markets, the elephant mahout is tactfully taking 10 to 20 taka from each shop by raising the trunk of the elephant, saluting and intimidating in some cases.

It has also been alleged that money is being collected by stopping passenger buses or small vehicles on various busy roads. Pedestrians, drivers, owners, traders and various classes of people on the Khagrachhari-Feni road have become impatient with the extortion of elephants every month.

The elephant is being taken to Jalia Para via Feni-Khagrachhari road on Wednesday (February 18) morning. At present, the extortion is going on by stopping every shop and small and big vehicles in Sonaipul and Ramgarh Bazar of Ramgarh Municipality. The traders said that the mahout was taking thousands of taka.

Pedestrian Rubel Hossain said if he gave the elephant less than 10 taka, he threw it away. Understanding the situation again, if he gave 20 rupees or more, he grabbed the elephant by the trunk and handed it over to the mahout sitting on his back.

Also expressing gratitude. Nur Nabi and Arif, traders of Sonaipul Bazar, said that if the elephants came and stood in front of the shop, the buyers would not enter the shop for fear or would not dare to enter. So to avoid that embarrassment, the shopkeepers were forced to send the elephant away with the money. Tomtom driver Farooq Mia said passengers' precious time was wasted by collecting money by stopping vehicles on the road. Passengers are scared.

When he wanted to talk to the elephant mahout Rana, he repeatedly went and said that he was forced to go to the shops to buy food for the elephants or to stop various vehicles to collect money. When contacted, Ramgarh Thana Officer-in-Charge Md. Shamsuzzaman said illegal conservation of wild animals and extortion are both crimes. He said he was taking action.