Forest to sue Travancore Devaswom Board for elephant torture

ALAPPUZHA: The Alappuzha Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) will file a case against the  Travancore Devaswom Board  authorities under the wildlife protection Act for torturing   temple elephant Mullakkal Balakrishnan which fell into a swamp on Tuesday and was rescued after a 17-hour operation.   The  Supreme Court order of  August 2015  stipulates criminal action against the elephant owners for violating the rules.  Sumi Joseph, ACF, Alappuzha, said that range officer Nazharudheen Kunju  was asked to register a case against the owner  and others  who transported Balakrishnan  in a vehicle without proper care.          

Mr   Kunju  said that a case will be filed against the elephant owner and the mahouts. The activists have demanded  quick action against the elephant owners and Cochin Devaswom Board. Mr  M.N. Jayachandran, member, Kerala State Animal Welfare Board, said that the real culprits should not be allowed to get away. If rules are violated, the owner and custodian of elephant must be treated as accused along with  other persons involved in such offences, according to the Supreme Court order.

“No elephant should be treated with  cruelty while being used for festivities. If found guilty, those concerned  shall face severe consequences which may include confiscation of the elephants to the state,” said the order.  Though the authorities  tried to move Balakrishnan to Mullakkal on Thursday,  it refused to climb  the   vehicle as its  front leg is suffering from inflammation. So the TDB officials decided to keep the elephant at Thuravoor till it gets healed.