Elephant gives cops the jitters

Sunday’s Muharram procession passed off peacefully but not before elephant Rajini gave mourners and cops the jitters.

The elephant refused to heed the mahout’s commands as the procession was about to start. Seemingly agitated by the crowd around, the pachyderm took miscalculated steps, creating panic at Bibi-Ka-Alawa. Rajini, at 52, has been transporting the ‘alam’ for 17 years now. It is also used for Bonnalu procession in Old City. To control the animal, the mahout struck it, resulting in a bleeding injury close to its eye. Zoo officials said the animal’s injuries were not serious.

“Its feet were chained to prevent erratic movement but it seemed agitated by all the crowds around it. We had to restrain the crowd before getting the animal under control,” said Deputy Commmissioner of Police V. Satyanarayana.

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