Bhubneswar: Odisha government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of an elephant died of gunshot injuries and the recovery of skeletal remains of three elephants in Athagarha forest Division of Cuttack district, state Forest and Environment Minister Pradip Kumar Amat said here on Friday.
Amat said the SIT was asked to submit its report within a month and action will be taken against the guilty on the basis of the inquiry report.
The state Forest department on Thursday has formed a team led by Anugul Circle Chief Conservation of Forest (wildlife), Manoj Nair, to inquire into the elephant deaths.
Sources said the team will also have an officer of the Crime Branch in the rank of a DSP and a Conservator of Forest.
The team will inquire into the allegation of negligence of forest officials, and an alleged deliberate attempt to suppress the incidents.
The team will also look into the involvement of any interstate racket in the death of the elephants.
The state swung into action after Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate change Bhupender Yadav sought an action-taken report from the state government on elephant deaths.
Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan has also expressed his concern over the rising incidents of elephant deaths in Odisha and demanded the Odisha government initiate steps to protect the elephants and to take stern action against the poachers. (UNI)
