Mission team very close to Belur Magna; hints of tranquilizing it

WAYANAD: It is hinted that Belur Magna, the wild tusker that trampled Ajeesh Kumar of Padamala to death in Mananthavady, will be tranquilised soon. The mission team is very close to it. Four kumkis have also reached the spot. They are very close to the elephant based on the signal received from the radio collar. Top officials of the forest department have reached Mananthavady. Five DFOs are part of the mission. Four veterinary officers are also with the team.

People have been warned of going out unnecessarily. Forest Minister A K Saseendran said that the elephant will be taken to Muthanga after drugging it. The minister had also said that a decision would be taken later on whether to release the elephant into the forest or make it a kumki. Vikram, Bharath, Surya and Surendran are the Kumkis helping the mission team.

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 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.