Student protest against jumbo death in Numaligarh, case registered against 2 NRL officials

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 21, 2024

Several hundred students took out a massive protest to voice their discontent against the mysterious death and burial of a female elephant at Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) Township in Golaghat district.

The students took the street of NH 39 on Sunday demanding the arrest of two NRL officials who were allegedly responsible for the death and secret burial of the animal at NRL Township.

The incident was exposed following a Facebook post of one Pranab Sarma who alleged that NRL authorities attempted to cover up the death of a female jumbo by burying its carcass in the Township.

The carcass of the wild elephant was recovered from the NRL Township on the morning of July 19 following which the forst authorities registered a case number GWL/02/2014-25 against two senior officials of the NRL.

The elephant was electrocuted on July 18 morning in the Butterfly Park situated within the NRL Township.

Golaghat Dorest Division DFO Sushil Kumar Thakuria said: “We 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.”

Environmental activist and journalist from Golaghat, Apurba Ballav Goswami said: “Elephants are protected by Schedule I of the Wild Life (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, which were carelessly laid in the area where the incident took place. Elephants regularly visit it. This incident calls for a thorough investigation.”