Barua: Maneka sends notices

Following reports of death of an elephant soon after it was captured by famous mahout Parbati Barua, Maneka Gandhi, chairperson of the People for Animals, has sent notices to the Director of Wildlife Preservation; Ministry of Environment and Forests; Secretary, Department of Forest and Wildlife, Chhattisgarh; and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Chhattisgarh.

‘‘The acts of Barua were not negligent but deliberate acts inflicted on the elephant. Under the circumstances, a clear case has been established. Barua has committed an act of hunting that is punishable by imprisonment for not less than 3 years and which may extend up to 7 years and fine shall not be less than 10,000…’’ says the report.

The slow torture and death of the elephant over 18 days had been captured on camera by Green Oscar winner Mike Pandey. This elephant belonged to a group of elephants that had migrated into Chhattisgarh forests because of loss of habitat in Jharkhand and Orissa forests. The government of Chhattisgarh had given a contract to Barua to capture this group of elephants after they killed 33 people in the state.

The three people in question have been given 60 days to reply to the notice, served under Section 55 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.