A mahout, who consumed some poisonous substance after police tried to question him over detection of broken blade pieces in the fodder of a tusker, died this morning, police said.
Shibu (40) was the mahout of the tusker Peramangalam Thechikkottukav Ramachandran, claimed to be the second tallest captive elephant in Asia. Some pieces of blade were found in the fodder served to the animal recently.
The man had been questioned by police in this connection.
The Thechhikkottukavu devaswom, owner of the elephant, had in a police complaint said that an attempt had been made to kill the animal.
Yesterday, when police arrived to question Shibu,he stated that he was innocent. After he fell ill, he was rushed to the hospital and he died this morning, police said.
