Rourkela: The Forest department has cracked the mystery surrounding the death of an elephant in Banki under Rourkela forest division in Sundargarh, Thursday. The animal had been poached. Six people involved in the crime were arrested along with seizure of two tusks and weapons used in it.
The arrested were identified as Naga Tiga (39), Karam Tiga (58), Bisra Oram (41), Ajay Oram (28), Salan Oram (30) and Bisi Oram (32). They were produced in court Thursday. Addressing a presser here at Rourkela DFO office, DFO Jashobant Sethi said that an elephant had intruded into the farmland of Karam Tiga at Banki village September 9. Later, villagers drove away the animal from the paddy field.
However, the elephant again came back to the farmland at night. Six people attacked the animal with spears. The injured elephant left the place and collapsed near a tree. Forest officials have seized the weapons used in the crime.