A bizarre case is making headlines in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. Following the death of a man due to an elephant attack, the forest department is facing a unique challenge. Six women have come forward, each claiming to be the deceased’s wife and seeking compensation. The forest department is now in a quandary, unsure who the rightful claimant is. To resolve the issue, each woman has been instructed to provide marriage-related evidence to prove their claim. The incident occurred in the Balajhar Chimta Pani village of the Patthalgaon forest range. The deceased, Salik Ram Toppo, was entitled to compensation from the government. However, when his alleged six wives, along with their children, arrived at the forest department office to claim the compensation, the authorities were taken aback. All six women assert they were married to Salik Ram Toppo. The forest department is now tasked with determining the genuine wife and the appropriate recipient of the compensation. Reportedly, Salik Ram married each of the six women at different times and resided with each for approximately two to three years, during which they had children. Prior to the elephant attack, Salik lived in Chimta Pani village with one of his wives and her son, Bhagwat Toppo.
Each of the wives has been requested to provide proof of their marriage. The women have stated they can produce evidence quickly to prove they were married to Salik Ram Toppo. A forest department official stated that the process of providing compensation to the family of the deceased is underway. Salik Ram Toppo’s six wives, along with their children and sons-in-law, have arrived seeking the compensation amount. The official added that further action will be taken based on the consent of the village head (Sarpanch) and after conducting an investigation. For now, all the women are striving to quickly present certificates and documents to prove they are the rightful wives. The compensation will be processed for the woman who successfully provides the required documentation.
