High-level team formed to probe elephant death cases, says PCCF

A high-level special investigation team has been formed to probe the death of elephant and recovery of skeletal remains of jumbos from Athagarh forest division in Cuttack district.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Odisha has constituted a high-level special investigation team to find out the exact reasons behind the rise in such cases of late. 

Briefing the media, PCCF Sashi Paul said “Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Manoj Nayar will head the three-member probe panel while RCCF will be chairman of the committee. The team will comprise a wildlife conservator and a senior official of the Crime Branch. The DFO will no longer be a part of investigating team.”

PCCF, however, ended saying we will not let the offenders go free at any cost.

Notably, two decomposed jumbo carcasses were recovered from Athagarh forest division. Subsequently, another tusker with gunshot wounds was found writhing in pain near a rivulet in Narasinghapur forest range under Athgarh forest division in Cuttack district recently. 
The animal was provided all sort of treatment. However, the animal succumbed to the disease on June 15. On Wednesday, the Athagarh forest division stumbled upon the skeletal remains of another elephant in Chandragiri reserve forest under Badamba range of Athagarh forest division in Cuttack district.

Meanwhile, animal lovers have raised questions over safety of elephants with the state witnessing a spurt in elephants’ death cases.