The Green movements in the district urged the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Vigilance) to hold an inquiry into the killing of an elephant in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS).
Addressing a press meet here on Thursday, spokespersons of the movements including N. Badusha, president, Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti; Sudheesh Karingari, secretary, Ferns Mananthavadi; and E.K. Sakeer Hussain, secretary, Green Cross ,Wayanad, alleged that the recent killing of a female elephant in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) was due to the rivalry between forest officials and politicians having direct links with the forest mafia.
The action taken by a senior forest official of the sanctuary against resort and granite quarry mafia had provoked the latter and they had tried to transfer the official with the help of some political leaders.
The female elephant which died with bullet injuries in Kurichiyad range of the forest recently was not a regular crop raider.
Though the three forest divisions in the district stretched over one lakh hectares of land, the government was yet to provide enough staff or weapons to the existing staff for protecting the vast area.
