‘Belur Magna’ to be tranquilised today; Kumkis ready for mission

MANANTHAVADY: Belur Magna, the wild tusker that killed a man in Mananthavady yesterday has been shifted from the residential area. It has been shifted to Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary. The forest officials shifted the elephant across the river early Sunday morning. The forest department has clarified that the elephant will be tranquilised today.

Forest Minister A K Saseendran responded that there will be a mission to catch the elephant soon. The tusker is in the inner forest. The tusker will be tranquilized after reviewing its health condition. Kumkis are ready for the mission. The elephant will be tranquilised and taken to Muthanga. The forest minister said that a decision will be taken later on whether to release it in the forest or make it a Kumki.

The wild elephant released after Karnataka fitted a radio collar reached Mananthavady and killed Ajeesh (47) at Padamala Panachi. People took to the streets to protest. Though the government issued an order to dart the elephant, the people did not calm down. Forest Minister A K Saseendran announced in Kozhikode that Ajeesh's dependents would be given a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh and his wife will be offered a government job. The government will also bear the expenses of his children's education.

The wild tusker Belur Magna (tuskless) fitted with a radio collar by the Karnataka Forest Department and released into the Molahalli forest took the life of farmer Ajeesh near the tourist centre Kuruva Island. The elephant entered the Kerala border at around 1 am and reached Mananthavady at 3 am. Ajeesh and others who were on the road ran seeing the tusker. When the tusker was seen following them, Ajeesh and Sanju jumped the gate and entered his friend Joemon’s house. While trying to jump, Ajeesh fell down and the tusker entered the house after destroying the gate and then trampled him to death.