Even as the video of three tribals from Kodanthur hamlet in Anaimalai attacking an elephant went viral, Forest Department officials booked all three men under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
Even as the video of three tribals from Kodanthur hamlet in Anaimalai attacking an elephant went viral, Forest Department officials booked all three men under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
Several videos were captured and released of the three men beating the elephant which went viral on social media, while netizens demanded action against them. On the order of the Assistant Director of Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Ganesh Ram, a team has been formed to launch a man-hunt for the three men to nab them.
“As soon as we entered their hamlet, these men ran away into the reserve forest. However, we asked the Head of the Kodanthur settlement to hand them over to the officers,” said Ganesh Ram.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that P Selvam (32), T Kalimuthu (25) and J Arunkumar (30) were attacking the elephant while their friends recorded the video of the attack atop a tree. The trio was seen charging at the elephants with sticks and stones and when the elephant turned back toward them, they fled the scene.