Dusshera elephant suffered gunshot injusry, accused arrested

A farm owner in Mysuru was arrested for shooting at a famous elephant which takes part in the Dusshera celebrations, forest guards said.

The elephant named Balarama suffered injuries after the accused allegedly shoot him near Bheemanakatte elephant camp in Periyapatna taluk in Musuru district on the night of 15th October.

Forest guards acted fast and arrested the farm land owner. The accused was later produced before the court.


According to the police, the accused has been identified as Suresh and the 63-year-old elephant suffered a gunshot injury on the front side of right leg.

The police have seized a single barrel gun and cartridges from Suresh.

The case is punitive in nature under Wildlife Conservation Act 1972. Hence a case has been booked under WLOR-06/ 2022-23.

The accused was later remanded to judicial custody.

Balarama is being treated for the injuries suffered in the leg at Bhimanakatte camp.

The tusker had sneaked into Suresh's farm after it was unchained to graze, the police said.

Ratan Kumar, Nagarhole WildLife Zone Forest, said further investigation is on.