Killing of wild elephants: Two more arrested

Palakkad: Two more persons were arrested by Pandikkad police under the Arms Act in connection with the suspected killing of two wild elephants — a tusker and a cow elephant — at Karivarakundu near the Puchipara forest outpost on February 25.

The arrested are Sundaran (48) of Nambinakath, Ariyakundru in Alanallur, who had allegedly manufactured the country-made gun, and Kuliyodan Assin (48) of Mampad, who supplied the cartridge allegedly used to kill the wild elephants, said Pandikkad circle inspector R Ashokan.

Two persons — Jabeer (35) of Udavampatta, Karuvarakundu, and Biju Mon (26) of Pattarumbu Colony, Nilambur, were earlier arrested in connection with the case.

Silent Valley National Park officials said that since the cases under Arms Act were handled by the police, they had written to the police to investigate the use of gun in the killing of the elephants. “Forest department will also try to get the arrested person for interrogation to pursue the case,” said an official.

“Examination of the carcasses found no trace of bullet or metal substances. But both the tusks of the tusker were found removed. The tusks, with a diameter of 11cm, were removed by burning, and the skin samples were sent for laboratory examination. The small tusks of the cow elephant were not missing. The cow elephant might have died of injuries after falling from a hill top,” said Mannarkkad veterinary officer Dr Shaji Panikkassery, who headed the team that had conducted the postmortem examination.

The carcasses were found near a banana plantation just 300m from the forests.

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