Wilson a rubber tapper from Edavanna has been arrested in connection with the death of the pregnant elephant in Mannarkkad forest range. The one month pregnant elephant died in Palakkad on May 27 after it ate a pineapple laced with explosives.
Earlier, the Forest Department had rounded up 3 persons in connection with the case, taking them into custody on Thursday evening. While Wilson has been arrested, reports stated that the other two were being questioned by officers.
Wilson had taken land on lease at Ambalappara near Mannarkkad.
An FIR was registered under section 9B (1)(b) [possesses, uses, sells or transports any explosive shall be punishable with imprisonment] of the Explosive Act, 1884 based on the complaint of a forest range official in Mannarkkad. A case has also been registered under section 11 (1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which lists various offences, including sub-section (1) (a) “beats, kicks, over-rides, over-drives, over-loads, tortures or otherwise treats any animal so as to subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering or causes or, being the owner permits, any animals to be so treated”.
The elephant is reported to have been injured between May 13 and May 20 when it had eaten a pineapple containing explosives. It was unable to eat or drink water for several days. It spent its last moments standing in the Veliyar river before it passed away.