Assam farmer sentenced to time in jail for death of elephant by electrocution

According to state government figures, between 2011 and 2019, at least 90 elephants have fallen prey to electrocution.

Published on: Mar 5, 2021, 23:48:51 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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A court in Assam has sentenced a farmer to three years and three months imprisonment on charges of killing a wild elephant by electrocution.

In an order issued on Wednesday, the district and sessions court in Baksa pronounced Ranjan Singh, a farmer from Tamulpur, guilty under section 51 (1) of the Wildlife Protection Act.

A case was registered against Singh after a female elephant was found dead at his paddy field on August 28, 2018. It was found that the animal had entered the field in search of food but got trapped in the live electric wire set up by Singh to protect his crop from wild animals and died due to electrocution.

“It has surfaced from evidence that the innocent female matured jumbo lost its life because of the crime committed by the accused. So, considering the factual matrix and circumstance of the case, the accused is sentenced to three years and three months rigorous imprisonment,” the order read.

The court also slapped a fine of ₹10,000 on the accused and if he fails to pay that he will have to undergo rigorous imprisonment for another two months.

According to state government figures, between 2011 and 2019, at least 90 elephants have fallen prey to electrocution.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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