KOTTAYAM: An elephant was brutally beaten to lift his head for a photo session after the ezhunnallippu in temple. The video of the elephant continuously beaten on the face with a stick has gone viral. The elephant has been identified as Pambadi Sundaran, owned by a native of Pambadi in Kottayam. The video is being circulated on social media.

The incident happened on March 25 at Thottipal Temple. The forest department has initiated legal action. As the video went viral, the first mahout has gone into hiding. Pampadi Sundaran is always taken for ezhunnallippu in Kerala. The Thrissur Social Forestry Department had registered a case against Rajesh, a native of Perumbavoor and Sajeevan, a native of Chalakudy, Potta for allegedly assaulting Pampadi Rajan during a head-to-head competition at the Puranattukara temple.