Dibrugarh, Mar 14: The Arunachal Students’ Association (ASA) on Friday submitted a memorandum to the PCCF (HoFF) of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department of Arunachal Pradesh, seeking strict action and a thorough investigation into the killing of a wild elephant in Pasighat.

“We, the Arunachal Students’ Association (ASA), request your immediate intervention and the launching of an investigation into the killing of a wild tusker recently in the Pasighat Reserved Forest under the Pasighat Forest Division in East Siang district,” the students’ body stated in the memorandum.

The association alleged that the elephant was killed by poachers, who reportedly removed its tusks and chopped off its trunk.

“A wild elephant tusker has allegedly been killed by poachers, and its tusks are said to have been removed while the trunk was also chopped off. Video footage of the killed tusker circulating in some closed WhatsApp groups indicates a case of brutal wildlife crime, especially since the killing took place within the Reserved Forest area close to the D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary,” the memorandum said.

ASA general secretary Ninur Rukbo said that elephants are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of legal protection.

“Elephants are Schedule I species protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and any act of hunting, killing, or illegal possession of their body parts is a grave offence punishable under the provisions of the Act. Such incidents within a Reserve Forest area and the eco-sensitive zone of a wildlife sanctuary raise serious concerns about the safety and protection of wildlife in the region,” he said.

Rukbo added that the ASA strongly condemned the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible.

“Our association has long been engaged in forest and wildlife conservation. We strongly condemn such acts of killing, and those responsible must be identified, booked, and arrested. The movement of armed individuals inside Reserve Forest areas and other illegal activities should be banned with immediate effect,” he said.