The Hindu : Tusker electrocuted, 3 held

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 06, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Tusker electrocuted, 3 held

By Our Staff Reporter

Coimbatore Nov. 5 . Forest officials have arrested a retired tahsildar and two watchmen of his farm, near here, on charges of having caused the death of an elephant by installing electric fencing.

According to official sources in the Forest Department, the tusker was found electrocuted at Ikkaraipooluvampatti, Semmedu, near here. It was suspected that the elephant might have been electrocuted while trying to stray into a farm.

After the postmortem confirmed that the cause of death was electrocution, the Forest officials found that the farm owner had used power supply meant for his pumpset on the fencing.

The rules allowed use of only battery, solar or low voltage power for fencing in areas bordering the forests.

On directions from the Conservator of Forests, T. Sekar, a team led by the District Forest Officer, P. Durairasu, arrested Muthusamy and the watchmen under the Wildlife Protection Act. They were later remanded to judicial custody. The tusks of the elephant were removed by the Forest department after the postmortem.

The DFO has appealed to all farm owners to refrain from using high-powered electric fencing using direct current. Any violation would attract stringent punishment under the Act.

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