4 months ago
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The Haripad constabulary person arrested 2 mahouts booked successful transportation with an incidental successful which a seven-month-old babe was taken beneath a captive elephant chained astatine a backstage spot adjacent Haripad.
The accused person been identified arsenic Jithin Raj and Abhilash, mahouts of the elephant Skandan, belonging to the Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple astatine Haripad. While Jithin Raj was taken into custody from Haripad connected Wednesday (January 7, 2026), Abhilash was arrested from Perumbavur successful Ernakulam connected Thursday (January 8, 2025). Notably, Abhilash is besides the begetter of the babe involved.
“The accused person been booked nether provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to negligent behaviour with respect to animals. The charges are bailable. While Jithin has already been released connected bail, Abhilash remains successful custody and volition beryllium released soon,” said Haripad constabulary sources.
Though nary ceremonial ailment was filed, the constabulary registered a suo motu lawsuit based connected the visuals of the incident. The incidental reportedly occurred past Sunday but came to airy lone connected Tuesday aft visuals surfaced online showing the babe being carried betwixt the legs of the tusker, reportedly arsenic portion of a ritual believed to ward disconnected fear. Significantly, the tusker had trampled a mahout to decease a fewer months ago. The babe was reportedly brought to the temple for the 'choroonu’ ceremony. The visuals amusement the babe slipping from the hands of 1 of the mahout’s and falling adjacent the elephant’s feet portion the mahout tried to spot the kid connected the elephant’s trunk. The babe escaped unhurt.
Following the incident, the elephant was removed from the premises. The carnal had been kept chained for the past fewer months aft sidesplitting its mahout.
