Elephant parading: First case registered in Thrissur, action against Kizhoor Pooram committee members

THRISSUR: The Forest Department has filed a case against the Kunnamkulam Kizhoor Pooram festival committee members for violating the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules 2012 by parading elephants. The case was filed for not maintaining proper distance between elephants and for violating instructions that elephants should not be paraded from 9 AM to 5 PM. A total of 29 elephants were paraded. The case has been filed against the temple advisory committee president Madhu K. Nair, secretary Roy, treasurer Dinesh Kumar, joint festival celebration committee president Divakaran, secretary Praveen Kumar, treasurer Abish, and the temple Devaswom officer Ramachandran Nair. This is the first case in the district related to an elephant procession, following a directive from the High Court.

Recently, a festival protection meeting was organized under the leadership of the State Festival Coordination Committee at the South Gate of Thrissur, demanding a review of the High Court’s order and amendments to the Captive Elephants Management rules.