The engine of a goods train that mowed down a female elephant and her calf inside the Lumding Reserve Forest was seized on Tuesday by the Assam forest officials.
This is for the first time ever that such an action has been taken against the railways by the forest department.
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After the seizure, Assam forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya said that the killing of elephants on railway tracks must stop and that the department should not fail to take a tough stand against the Railways.
The female elephant and her calf were mowed down a goods train engine in Lumding RF on September 27.
The forest department has vigorously pursued the case under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 against the railways.
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The forest department also instituted an inquiry under the act and accordingly a team of forest officials proceeded to Bamunimaidan Loco Shed on Tuesday and seized the diesel loco engine (No. 12440).
The loco pilot and his assistant have already been suspended by the railways after an internal inquiry.”
It may be mentioned here that the Indian wild elephant is a Schedule-I animal under the entry 12-B of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
A forest offence has been listed against railway officers and employees of the railways under Lumding division of NF Railway for the killing of the two wild elephants.
It may be mentioned here that killing of elephants is an offence under Section 9 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and punishable under Sec 51 of the act.