Three held in connection with death of elephant

Kottayam: A mahout, lorry owner and the vehicle driver were arrested in connection with the death of an elephant on July 23, officials said

They were produced before a local court at Kanjirapally which remanded them to custody today.

The tusker, being taken to its owner's estate in a truck, suffered serious head injuries after the speeding vehicle hit a speed breaker and a broken piece of wood from the frame used to hold the pachyderm in place spiked one of its limbs

The driver and mahout, who were inside the truck cabin, were unaware of the injury and kept on moving at full speed.

However, locals who noticed the injured animal blocked the truck at Illikkal junction and informed those in the truck of what had happened. The animal was later lifted out with cranes, but died.

Officials said the elephant was buried after postmortem at the compound of the owner in Thottakkad in Kottayam on Sunday.

As per initial report, the tusker died of a severe blow on the forehead.

The tusks were handed over to the Forest Department as its former owner gifted the animal to the present owner who does not have a ownership certificate.