Elephant electrocuted to extract tusks

NT Correspondent

An investigation by Bengaluru police after arresting three accused on charges of smuggling elephant tusks, led to unearthing a carcass of an elephant at Veerapura village in Hassan taluk.

Chennamanakere (CK) Achukattu police in Bengaluru had arrested three people on March 18 while they were allegedly looking for buyers for tusks.

Chandre Gowda, 46, of Veerapura; Somalingappa, 41, of Bankapura in Shiggaon taluk of Haveri district; and Praveen Guled, 24, of Basavanal in Shiggaon were arrested by the police. A pair of tusks weighing 29kg was recovered from the accused. 

Following interrogation, a probe was launched by the police team and they reached Veerapura village on March 20. With the assistance of Forest Department officials, they exhumed the carcass of the animal. Samples of the skull were collected for further examination in the presence of veterinarians and experts.

The officers suspect that the animal would have died due to electrocution about six months ago. According to sources, Chandre Gowda, with the help of others, is believed to have dug a trench in his farm using an earthmover and buried the body of the animal. The police are looking for the owner of the earthmover, who is absconding, they added.

Further investigation on the case is underway, police said.