Tezpur, Sept. 22 -- Two people were killed in separate elephant attacks in Assam's Dhekiajuli on Tuesday morning, taking the number of deaths linked to human-elephant conflict (HEC) in the state to five in the past 16 days.

The deceased were identified as Rahmat Ali of No. 2 Pirakata and Ganesh Toppo of Ratunjuli.

The latest attacks took place around 7 am as the victims were coming out of their houses, according to local residents.

Toppo was walking with his two children at around 6.30 am when a wild elephant that had emerged from a nearby forest attacked them, a local resident said. Toppo was reportedly attacked while trying to protect his children.

The two children, aged around five and seven, sustained injuries in the attack.

Resi...