Indian villagers protest over killer elephants

Villagers in the north-east Indian state of Assam are demanding official action to control wild elephants which have trampled to death more than twenty people this year.

In the district of Nowgaon villagers have taken part in hunger strikes and protest marches to back their demands.

Officials say the destruction of the elephants' traditional habitat has caused them to encroach on human settlements in search of food.

The state government is reported to have asked the federal authorities for permission to capture about two hundred of the wild elephants.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service