150 Hungry Elephants Trample Village - 3 Dead

GAUHATI, India — A herd of nearly 150 hungry elephants rampaged through a village in India's remote northeast, trampling to death a young family as they slept in their hut, a resident and a wildlife official said Saturday.

The Asiatic elephants destroyed four homes in Assam state's Karbi Anglong village Friday night, said resident Rimi Marak.

"The herd was just too large. The villagers could do nothing," Marak said. A farmer, his wife and their 5-year-old daughter died in the incident, he said.

The herd left a nearby forest reserve in search of food nearly two weeks ago, said state forestry officer M.K. Dhar.

Forest guards had tried in vain to drive the elephants back using firecrackers and lighting torches, Dhar told The Associated Press.

The region is home to some 5,000 wild elephants, whose natural habitat has been increasingly diminished by human development. Conservationists say wild elephant attacks have killed more than 700 people in Assam in the past 17 years.

"We take pride at the large elephant population in our region, but the increasing man-elephant conflict following the shrinkage in their habitat due to the growing human population is turning out to be a huge challenge," said Pradyut Bordoloi, a former state forest and environment minister.

GAUHATI, India — A herd of nearly 150 hungry elephants rampaged through a village in India's remote northeast, trampling to death a young family as they slept in their hut, a resident and a wildlife official said Saturday.

The Asiatic elephants destroyed four homes in Assam state's Karbi Anglong village Friday night, said resident Rimi Marak.

"The herd was just too large. The villagers could do nothing," Marak said. A farmer, his wife and their 5-year-old daughter died in the incident, he said.

The herd left a nearby forest reserve in search of food nearly two weeks ago, said state forestry officer M.K. Dhar.

Forest guards had tried in vain to drive the elephants back using firecrackers and lighting torches, Dhar told The Associated Press.

The region is home to some 5,000 wild elephants, whose natural habitat has been increasingly diminished by human development. Conservationists say wild elephant attacks have killed more than 700 people in Assam in the past 17 years.

"We take pride at the large elephant population in our region, but the increasing man-elephant conflict following the shrinkage in their habitat due to the growing human population is turning out to be a huge challenge," said Pradyut Bordoloi, a former state forest and environment minister.

Imagery by the National Remote Sensing Agency shows that nearly 691,880 acres (280,000 hectares) of thick forests in Assam state were illegally cleared for human settlements from 1996 to 2000.

In 2001, villagers in Sonitpur district poisoned to death 19 wild elephants after the hungry animals feasted on standing crops and demolished several homes.

Man stabbed at York Hotel ignores wound to finish his beer

A man who was stabbed at the York Hotel Saturday night opted to return to the bar to finish his beer rather than seek medical attention.

Police responded to 10401 96 St. hotel just after 9 p.m. with reports that a man had been stabbed.

When they arrived, they found the victim at his table drinking beer.

"He's got a minor poke to his chest, but he's not giving us any details," said Staff Sgt. Regan James. "You can imagine the level of his concern was not that high."

No suspects had been located and the victim was uncooperative with police

Woman, 81, killed in street mugging 'ignored by passers-by as she called for help'

An 81-year-old woman, who died after being mugged in the street, was ignored by passers-by as she cried for help.

Police said that Molly Morgan sus­tained head injuries suffered in the attack on her from behind - yet people who could have helped her thought she was drunk.

She was left on the pavement for 10 minutes before eventually being taken to hospital on Thursday evening, but died the following day from her injuries.

A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as head injuries. She also had a broken left arm and mul­tiple fractures to the left side of her face after being dragged to the ground during the attack.

Ignored: Pensioner Molly Morgan died following a street mugging. Many passers-by refused to help her because they thought she had been drinking

Her bag contained just an electrical exten­sion lead and a Primark umbrella.

Today her only daughter Hilary, an artist from Surrey, pleaded for anyone with information about the mugging in Harrow to come forward.

She also released a painting of her mother’s bag, which police are searching for.

She said: 'My mum was so active and full of life. I still can’t believe she has been taken away from me. I am her only daughter and we were close. She encouraged me in my dream of going to art school.

'If this painting helps to catch the person who killed her, it’s the most important painting I’ve ever done.'

Mrs Morgan, who had lived in the area for more than 50 years, was on her way to Kenton Library for a lecture.

Vital clue: A painting of the missing bag belonging to Molly Morgan

The 'active' and 'agile' pensioner had trained as an architect but gave up work to become a full-time mother.

She was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and sat on the London committee of the Worker Education Association, a group that supports adult education.

For more than 40 years she was married to William Morgan, who died in November 1997.

Detective Chief Inspector Jessica Wadsworth - from the Met’s Homi­cide and Serious Crime Command, which is leading the investigation - said some passers-by refused to help Mrs Morgan because they thought she had been drinking.

She said: 'When Mrs Morgan was attacked she fell to the ground, and we believe she was on the pavement for about 10 minutes before anyone came to her aid.

'While at hospital, Mrs Morgan told police that a man walked right past her and didn’t stop, even when she asked for help.

'I need to trace this man, and any other people who saw Mrs Morgan lying on the pavement, since they are vital witnesses and will be able to help me find who killed her.

'It is our belief that this man, and other people in the area who didn’t assist the victim, may tragically not have realised that Mrs Morgan had been attacked and was in consider­able pain.

'We know from some witnesses that they had assumed she was merely a drunk on the street.'

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.