Haathi kiska saathi? Battle for jumbo that crossed border

AGARTALA: Two hearts are breaking on either side of the India-Bangladesh border. One is a man, Atikur, a Bangladeshi, and the other is his meandering pachyderm, Chandratara.

For Atikur, life without Chandratara is unimaginable. Not a single day would pass that they didn’t see each other. But Atikur is now fighting a legal battle to bring her back from a foreign country.

Chandratara, a captive elephant who Atikur claims is his, had inadvertently crossed over to a border village near western Kailashahar , in Tripura’s Unakoti district, through an unsecured area on Sept 11 last year. Forest officials took custody of the elephant, sparking a legal battle for ownership between Atikur and two other claimants from India.

“After being informed by BSF that an elephant was roaming along the border, we rescued her. Immediately, two villagers claimed ownership, but weren’t able to give proof. We took the elephant into custody after that,” a senior Indian wildlife official said.

Atikur has sent photographs and ownership documentation to BSF and Tripura forest department through his Indian relatives. In a video message, he said, “India is a great country and I have immense respect for the law of this land. I trust the legal complexities will soon be resolved, and I will be reunited with my elephant.” He said Chandratara likely became disoriented and crossed the border while searching for food. Atikur has also filed a general diary at Kamalganj police station in Bangladesh and submitted a grievance to Border Guard Bangladesh. His relative has initiated legal proceedings in Unakoti district court.

A wildlife official said the case will be heard on Jan 21.