Guwahati, July 21: Several hundred students took to the streets on Sunday, protesting the mysterious death and secret burial of a female elephant at the Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) Township in Assam’s Golaghat district.
The students, marching along NH 39, demanded the arrest of two NRL officials allegedly responsible for the death and concealment of the animal at the township.
The elephant was electrocuted on July 18 after contacting an exposed armoured cable in Butterfly Park, adjacent to the NRL township. The carcass was discovered on July 19, prompting the forest authorities to file a case (GWL/02/2014-25) against two senior NRL officials.
A forest official revealed that the refinery reported the death late, after burying the carcass, a severe violation given the elephant’s Schedule 1 status under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. The carcass was exhumed, and a post-mortem was conducted, with results expected by July 23.
NRL spokesperson Madhuchanda Adhikari denied any concealment, stating, “Some staff members, fearing consequences due to a nearby elephant herd, decided to bury the animal before informing the Forest Department. We will comply with the department’s investigation findings.”
Golaghat Divisional Forest Officer Sushil Kumar Thakuria said they are investigating this case as a wildlife crime as the elephant was buried without informing the forest officials. “The post-mortem of the elephant was conducted, based on which we will be able to speak on the exact cause of death,” he said.
This incident highlights ongoing human-elephant conflicts in the area, with NRL situated approximately 20 km from the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. The refinery has faced previous controversies, notably constructing a wall through an elephant corridor in 2014, which the National Green Tribunal ordered demolished in 2016.
Environmental activist Apurba Ballav Goswami emphasized, “Elephants are protected by Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The unnatural death in an oil refinery township due to electrocution and attempts to cover up the issue attracts heavy punishment under the Act. These electrical lines belong to NRL and are carelessly laid in an area frequented by elephants. This incident calls for a thorough investigation.”
Also Read:Â Jharkhand CM Soren donates Rs 2 crore as flood relief to Assam
Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel-Â www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram-Â www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
