THRISSUR: The forest department has registered a case against three persons, including a CPM leader, for holding an elephant procession to celebrate the victory in the local body elections. The forest department has registered a case against CPM leader AD Dhanip, a former president of Punnayoorkulam panchayat, K Sainuddin, a native of Vellimana, and Jabir, a native of Tirur.

Elephants procession is not allowed without the prior permission of the District Monitoring Committee under the Kerala Captive Elephants Act. The elephant was used in the demonstration without permission at a time when there were strict restrictions and bans on elephant movements.

The Thrissur ACF PM Prabhu said that the rule is that elephants should not be used except for religious ceremonies. He said the organizers used the elephant to march without the permission of the forest department.