Kerala Forest Department makes its first arrest in pregnant elephant's heinous murder

An arrest has been made by Kerala Forest Department in case of horrific killing of a pregnant elephant last month in a forest area in Palakkad district. In a tweet, forest department confirmed "major breakthrough!" and said, "KFG has zeroed on culprits and recorded first arrest in wild elephant death case."

Palakkad SP speaking to Republic TV said that arrested man works in a farm and his aides will be arrested soon. official said that accused is being interrogated and he has confessed crime. "We are also trying to investigate from which place he purchased explosive material," he added.

This comes after a nationwide outr over incident prompted Centre and state government to take strict measures. On Thursday, Kerala Forest Department informed that a special investigation team has been set up to probe death of elephant. It has also said that it will leave stone unturned to ensure 'maximum punishment' to culprits.

'Will t leave any stone unturned'

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said stern action will be taken against those who killed  pregnant wild elephant by feeding it a cracker-filled pineapple. " Environment Ministry has taken a serious te of death of an elephant in Kerala. Has sought a complete report on incident. Stern action will be taken against culprit(s)," Javadekar said in a statement.

'Justice will prevail'

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured that justice will prevail. Taking to Twitter, Vijayan stated that an investigation is underway, focusing on three suspects. police and forest departments will jointly investigate incident. He added that government will also try to address causes behind increased incidences of Human-wildlife conflict. 

His administration has come under significant flak for allowing use of bomb-stuffed fruits, which have claimed multiple elephants, and allegedly hundreds of or animals in recent months.

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Female elephant's posr-mortem report out

preliminary post-mortem report of  female wild elephant at Mannarkkad Forest Division said that immediate cause of death of animal was drowning followed by inhalation of water leading to lung failure. "Drowning, followed by inhalation of water leading to lung failure, is immediate cause of death of elephant," post-mortem report read.

However, report also confirmed that elephant had suffered incapacitating wounds in its oral cavity following an explosive blast in mouth after which it took shelter in Velliyar river. " major and incapacitating wounds and injuries in oral cavity caused localised sepsis and have most likely occurred following an explosive blast in mouth. This has resulted in excruciating pain and distress in region and prevented animal from taking food and water for nearly two weeks. Severe debility and weakness, in turn, resulted in final collapse in water that led to drowning," post-mortem report furr read.

elephant had died in Palakkad district on May 27 after it ate a pineapple stuffed with crackers and forest officials said that it died standing in river Velliyar after it suffered an injury in its lower jaw. elephant was seen standing in river with its mouth and trunk in water for some relief from pain after explosive-filled fruit exploded in its mouth

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