KOCHI: The High Court will consider the petitions related to the capture of the rogue tusker 'Arikomban' on Wednesday. A division bench comprising Justice AK Jayashankaran Nambiar and Justice P Gopinath is hearing the petitions filed by 'People For Animals' against the capture of the elephant. Jose K. Mani MP and Shanthanpara Panchayat joined the plea as parties seeking permission to capture the elephant.

The High Court had formed an expert committee consisting of Kottayam High Range Circle CCF RS Arun, Project Tiger CCF H Pramod, Wildlife Trust of India Vice President and chief veterinarian Dr NVK Ashraf, Kerala Forest Research Institute ex-director Dr PS Isa, and amicus curiae Adv Ramesh Babu to investigate and report if there is an alternative solution to the problem without capturing the elephant. The High Court will consider the committee's report today.

Verdict to capture Chinnathambi

In 2019, the Madras High Court had ordered the capture of 'Chinnathambi', a rogue elephant in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This order was passed by a division bench comprising the current Chief Justice of Kerala High Court S. Manikumar and Justice Subramaniam Prasad. A copy of this order was also included in the affidavit filed by Jose K. Mani in the High Court. The demand in the petition was to capture the elephant and transfer it to another forest. However, the division bench, which examined many plans including this one, ordered the elephant to be caught and caged. A similar situation has risen in the case of Arikomban, according to Jose K. Mani's affidavit.