Bakultala, Aug. 1: A 22 year old youth named Ajay Kullu, S/o Marianus Kullu, R/o Bakultala was killed by a crock when he went fishing in the nallah behind Fire Brigade Barrack. The incident took place today at around 9.15 when Ajay Kullu along with his friend Manoj Barla went for net fishing. As the two entered into waist deep in the nallah, the crock attacked Ajay Kullu. The body of the deceased is yet to be recovered.

Meanwhile, Manoj Barla has been shifted to PHC Rangat as he went into a shock. The staff of PHC Rangat are rendering Psyco Social Support to Monoj, whose condition is said to be improving.

Local residents allege that the reason for the crock appearing in the nallah is due to the chicken waste dumped by a chicken vendor near the Fire Brigade Barrack. In spite of repeated warnings from the concerned authorities and a sign board placed by the Forest Department, the vendor regularly dumped the waste into the nallah, thus attracting crocks.

The residents also informed that crocks have also been sighted in the Rangat Nallah recently.

Ajay Kullu is the youngest among the four sons of Shri Marianus Kullu who retired as a Forest Labour.

Meanwhile, all out efforts are being made to locate the body of the victim. Divers from defence were heli-lifted from Port Blair and sent to Bakultala. Special teams of Forest and officials of Fire Service were also despatched who were searching the body till late evening. The search will start again in the morning.

LG expresses grief, sanctions ex-gratia relief: The Lt. Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM has expressed grief on the demise of Shri Ajay Kullu. The Lt Governor has sanctioned Rs One lakh as ex-gratia relief out of LG’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of the deceased person, in addition to the compensation which will be given by the Wild Life Department. The Lt Governor has directed the Forest department to take further preventive steps to avoid such incident.