Elephant injured by setting fire in Nilgiris; third accused surrenders in Court in Gudalur

The third and prime accused in the case of injuring a wild elephant by setting fire in Nilgiris, has surrendered at the Gudalur court, and has been lodged in judicial custody for 15 days.


The Nilgiris: The third and prime accused in the case of injuring a wild elephant by setting fire in Nilgiris, has surrendered at the Gudalur court.

Ricky Rayan, the prime accused who was absconding for over a year in connection with the case in setting fire for chasing an elephant, has surrendered at the Gudalur court. He is arrested and remanded to 15 days judicial custody.

A 50-year-old wild elephant was found roaming with serious injuries on its back in Ooty, at Mawanalla and Masinagudi, last year. Upon information shared with the forest department, the forest officials trapped the elephant by sedating it to treat the injuries on 19th of January, 2021. Unfortunately, the animal succumbed on the same day.

An autopsy confirmed that the elephant had severe burns on its ear portion. As the forest department started investigating the incident, a shocking video of certain humans chasing the elephant by setting fire spread on the media. Those reportedly responsible for causing injuries to the animal were found to be from a private hostel in Mawanalla.

Reportedly, Ricky Rayan's brother Raymond Dean and Prashant, who were on duty with them, set the elephant on fire and drove it into the forest as the animal went through Ricky Rayan's hostel. The forest department immediately sealed the hostel registering a case against them, also arresting Raymond Dean and the employee Prashant.

They have now been arrested under the Goondas Act and are in jail. Ricky Rayan, who is considered the prime accused in the case, had been absconding for the past one year. The Ooty court justice also dismissed the bail petition a few months back. However, Ricky Rayan has now surrendered at the Gudalur court and remanded in 15 days judicial custody.

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