“Arikomban, the notorious elephant causing havoc in Idukki: Forest officials finally succeed in catching the rogue tusker”

Chinnakanal: The paddy stalk that shook Idukki was loaded into the vehicle. After a lot of effort, Arikompan was loaded into the lorry with the help of Kumkianas. Meanwhile, Arikomban also tried to attack the Kumkianas. At the same time, heavy rain and wind made the task of forest department officials a challenge.

A rope was tied on all four legs of the drugged rice branch. Then the elephant’s eyes were also covered with cloth. The four kumkianas were right next to the rice stalk. The lorry was brought near Arikomban after leveling the place by bringing JCB. While trying to tie the rope, Arikompan turned on the officers. The move of the forest department is to shift the elephant to a secret sanctuary. Hours have passed since Arikompan was drugged. They tried to tie the rope five times, but when Arikomban continued to be non-cooperative, the officials got stuck.

Arikomban, who was drugged, was not completely sedated. Forest Minister AK Saseendran said that the elephant will be brought to the interior forest area. Arikomban will not be released in Idukki district. Officials will continue to monitor the elephant wherever it is taken. The forest minister said that the Arikomban mission is on its way to success.

Katana was drugged by the mission team near the cement bridge. The shooting was done by a team led by Dr. Arun Zakaria. The forest department said that steps have been taken to shift the elephant to a safe place. The group decided to shoot again if necessary. The elephant was under surveillance by the mission team for hours. The elephant, which went up to Suryanelli near Sinkukand, was brought down by bursting firecrackers. Responding that the mission was successful, Minister AK Saseendran congratulated the mission team.

Since 2005, 34 people have been killed by elephants in the Chinnakanal-Shanthanpara section. Of these, seven people were killed by Ari Kompan. Arikomban destroyed 31 buildings in three months. In 2017 alone, 52 houses and shops were demolished. In 2017, Arikompan was drugged three times and five times but could not be caught.