After a disturbing video of miscreant tourists stoning a wild elephant and its calf at the National Highway in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary went viral on social media, four youngsters surrendered before the Wildlife Warden Tuesday, March 29.
Reports suggest that Shamal Hashim (21) of Puthanpuarayil, M Shameer (21) of Palapadiyan veedu, Abdul Razak (21) of Parapurathu house and Riyas (26) of Cheeramkuzhiyil near Mepadi in Wayanad have surrendered before P Dhaneshkumar. They have also surrendered the Maruti Alto 800 car, registered with the number KL 12 J 4670, before the wildlife warden that they used for the trip.
Following the incident, the authorities have decided to improve night patrolling in the forest area. "We have also planned to install CCTVs on National Highways immediately," Dhaneshkumar told Manorma News. "Even though the youngsters claimed of stoning the elephants for fun, their cruel mentality is evident from the video. Therefore, the department will take proper measures to punish them [sic]," Assistant Wildlife Warden S Harilal told to media.
The incident is said to have happened March 25 on Kozhikode-Mysore National Highway and in the video posted on the Facebook page of Elephas Media taken by another tourist, the youngsters are seen pelting stones at the wild animals. The two-minute brutal footage has gone viral with more than 4.3 lakh views on social media within two days.
The Forest Department has reportedly filed a case under the wildlife protection act that can lead to up to seven years of imprisonment.
Watch the video here:
