Amid criticism, Kerala CM slams 'hate campaign' against state, assures elephant killers will be nabbed soon
Thiruvananthapuram/IBNS: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said a manhunt has been launched to nab the three people who were involved in the killing of pregnant elephant in Pallakad district of Kerala, which has evoked widespread criticism across India and abroad.
“An investigation is underway, focusing on three suspects. The police and forest departments will jointly investigate the incident. The district police chief and the district forest officer visited the site today. We will do everything possible to bring the culprits to justice,” CM Vijayan tweeted.
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An investigation is underway, focusing on three suspects. The police and forest departments will jointly investigate the incident. The district police chief and the district forest officer visited the site today. We will do everything possible to bring the culprits to justice.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) June 4, 2020
He said the government would also investigate the rising incidents of animal-man conflict.
He, however, hit out at the "hate campaign" unleashed against the state over the tragic incident and said Kerala is “a society that respects the outrage against injustice”.
"We are saddened by the fact some have used this tragedy to unleash a hate campaign. Lies built upon inaccurate descriptions and half truths were employed to obliterate the truth. Some even tried to import bigotry into the narrative. Wrong priorities,” he continued.
“If there is any silver lining in this, it is that we now know that we can make our voices heard against injustice. Let us be that people who fight injustice in all its forms; everytime, everywhere,” he added.
Having said that, we are saddened by the fact some have used this tragedy to unleash a hate campaign. Lies built upon inaccurate descriptions and half truths were employed to obliterate the truth. Some even tried to import bigotry into the narrative. Wrong priorities.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) June 4, 2020
The brutal killing of the pregnant elephant drew attention on May 30 after Mohan Krishnan, a section forest officer in Mannarkkad in Palakkad district, wrote a heartfelt note on facebook which quickly went viral.
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has tweeted that the Centre would leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits to justice. BJP MP Menaka Gandhi has also targetted the Kerala government for not taking stringent steps despite repeated incidents of wildlife poaching and blatant killing of elephants.
Central Government has taken a very serious note of the killing of an elephant in Mallapuram, #Kerala. We will not leave any stone unturned to investigate properly and nab the culprit(s). This is not an Indian culture to feed fire crackers and kill.@moefcc @PIB_India @PIBHindi
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) June 4, 2020
Mallapuram is know for its intense criminal activity specially with regards to animals. No action has ever been taken against a single poacher or wildlife killer so they keep doing it.
— Maneka Sanjay Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) June 3, 2020
I can only suggest that you call/email and ask for action pic.twitter.com/ii09qmb7xW
On Wednesday, an FIR under the relevant sections of Wildlife Protection Act against unidentified people has been filed.
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