Dhenkanal: Initiating action against the officials responsible for Kamalanga jumbo electrocution incident of October 27, the Crime Branch of Odisha Police today arrested three staffs of Forest & Environment and Energy departments on Saturday.
Those officials who were taken into custody today are, Sanjay Mohanty, Junior Engineer, Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU), who has already been dismissed from his service, forester of Meramandali section Pravakar Rana and forest guard of Meramandali forest beat house Girish Dehuri.
Notably, on October 28 at least seven elephants were found dead in Kamalanga Forest under Sadar Forest Range. After preliminary investigation by the forest officials it came to notice that the jumbos had been electrocuted after coming in contact with low-hanging live 11KV wires that were laid by the railway department for track construction work.
Later, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered a Crime Branch inquiry into the incident.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also registered a Suo Motu case against the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) and imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on the power distribution company for its alleged negligence in the case.
Also Read: Jumbo deaths: NGT files Suo Motu case, slaps Rs 1 cr fine on CESU
Kalinga AI