In a tragic incident, two wild elephants were electrocuted near Sulegali village in Khanapur, Belagavi district.

The incident occurred when the elephants came into contact with an illegal electric fence surrounding a field. Responding to the fatalities, Karnataka Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre immediately ordered a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible, including officials for dereliction of duty.

Action Taken and Orders Issued -

Farmer Arrested: A farmer, identified as Ganapati Gurav, has been arrested and a case registered against him for allegedly illegally energizing the fence on his land, which led to the elephants' deaths.

Action Against Officials: Minister Khandre has ordered disciplinary action against forest department officers and staff found guilty of negligence, especially since there was prior information about elephant movement in the area. Trading Mastery- 4 Books in 1 Paperback – 2 February 2020

Report Deadline: The Minister has directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden to submit a detailed report with recommendations for disciplinary action within five days.

Incident Details

The incident resulted in the death of one male and one female elephant. The preliminary investigation points to the illegal electrification of the field fence as the direct cause of the tragedy.

The Minister has emphasized that stringent legal action must be taken against all those responsible for the deaths. Furthermore, a case has also been reportedly filed against HESCOM (Hubli Electricity Supply Company Limited) at the Nagargali Range Forest Officer's office, citing negligence on the part of the power utility officials regarding the unauthorized electric connection. Also Read: Karnataka High Court to Hear Challenge Against SC Sub-Categorisation Policy!