Elephant electrocuted at coffee estate; 2 persons held

A six-year old elephant died of electrocution today after it came into contact with 'high-tension' electricity fence at a coffee estate near Hassanur in Sathyamangalam forest area in the district.
Two employees of the estate were arrested by police for causing the death of the elephant, police said.
According to forest officials, the coffee estate on 100 acre in Ongalwadi village had put up electric fence to prevent entry of wild animals.
This afternoon, the elephant came into contact with the fence and died on the spot. People in the neighbourhood of the estate informed forest personnel, who removed the elephant and conducted a postmortem.

The forest officials and the veterinary doctor declared that the elephant's death was due to the electrocution.
On a complaint by forest officials, Hassanur police registered a case and arrested Kannan and Kamal, two employees of the estate, and were investigating the case.