Goalpara, Nov 4: The image on wild elephant silhouetted against Assam's paddy fields has for long carried both majesty and menace. For centuries, elephants hove named freely across the Brahmaputra Valley, shaping culture, ecology, and folklore. Yet today, this iconic species is increasingly at the heart of a tragic conflict.

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Assam has escalated in recent decades, driven by shrinking forests, encroached corridors, and the pressure of infrastructure expansion. Villages in Rangjuli, Krishnai, Agia, and Lakhipur live under the shadow of recurring herd incursions, crop raids, house damage, and even fatalities.

Between 2019 and Assam lost 3 people to counters with elephants, with Goalpara consistently featuring among the most vulnerable districts. In 2024 alon

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