Bhitarkanika locals say they'll vote for party that protects them from crocs

KENDRAPADA: Around 40,000 riverside villagers within Bhitarkanika National Park under the Rajanagar assembly segment in Kendrapada district have reserved their votes for the party that will promise them protection from salt-water crocodiles. The district will vote on April 29.
"We are in a catch-22 situation. We don't know whom to vote for in the polls as political parties have turned a blind to eye to our appeal for an end to the crocodile menace in the villages," said Pradeep Das from Dangamala village within the park.

A total of 22 villages located within the periphery of the national park have been facing the problem for years. Around 50 to 60 people have been killed by the estuarine crocodiles in the last decade. Many have been maimed. "Hundreds of cattle have also been killed. The park is home to around 1,700 ferocious reptiles," Pradeep said.

Villagers of the riverside hamlets have been spending sleepless nights as a result of the ever-present threat of crocodiles. The villagers fear to step out of their homes at night.

Banamali Mohanty (57), a farmer of Bankarakua village, is the latest victim of rising saltwater crocodile attacks in the riverside villages. His half-eaten body was found in the river Baitarani on Friday.

Another victim, Sarat Mallick (35) of Sriampur village, was killed in December 2018 while he was taking a bath in the river. "I will not cast my vote in favour of any party as the leaders have failed to protect us from crocodiles," his father Jagannath Malick said.