Kerala MLA Forcibly "Frees" Man From Forest Department Custody In Elephant Death Case
The forest officials suspect that the elephant's death was caused by an illegal high-voltage electricity supply line for solar farming.
Thiruvananthapuram: Ruling CPM MLA in Kerala, K U Jenish Kumar, courted a major controversy on Wednesday when he forcibly freed a driver of an earthmover who was taken into custody by the forest department in connection with the death of a wild elephant by electrocution.
The incident took place at Padam Forest Station. The video footage of the incident showed the MLA issuing threats to the forest department official in the presence of police officers, including a DySp.
"There is a limit to everything. On what grounds have you taken this person into custody? You are trying to fabricate false charges against the person and violating legal norms," he was seen shouting in the video.
The legislator described the forest department's action as a shameless act. "I'll set this place on fire. Naxals will come here again. People are protesting over the elephant's death, and in the midst of that , you're detaining innocent people," Jinesh Kumar is heard saying in the video.
The post-mortem examination had confirmed that the elephant died due to electrocution. The forest department officials are ascertaining the reasons behind the electrocution.
Earlier, the forest officials had registered a case against the landowner. The land was subsequently leased out to another man for carrying out farming activities.
The forest department officials took the earthmover driver into custody when the area was being cleared. This led to the controversy involving the MLA.
The forest officials suspect that the elephant's death was caused by an illegal high-voltage electricity supply line for solar farming.
Meanwhile, Jenish Kumar expressed regret for the harsh words used against the officials. However, he said there was widespread resentment among the people over increasing wild animal attacks in the area.