The department said it in a probe report on the animal's death that was submitted to Kerala Governor on June 4. It said that for the first time on May 23, the elephant was spotted by the Forest Department officials in the Mannarkad forest division of Ambalpara, Palakkad. The probe report mentioned that the nearby forest area was investigated for about 10 km and evidence regarding explosive was found. The Forest Department will continue its search operation will continue in the area of the forest so that evidence can be collected, it added. A team of 9 Forest Department officials was formed to investigate this case, it said in its probe report.

Source: dna June 06, 2020 13:07 UTC