Amid the strong nationwide outrage and demands to bring the suspects responsible in the death of a 15-year-old pregnant elephant in Kerala into the legal books, the state forest department has, on Friday, said that the police had arrested one suspect behind of what has become the horrific act of animal cruelty. 

The arrest has come nearly a week after the death of the pregnant elephant in Palakkad district in Kerala and she died after eating a pineapple that was stuffed with the firecrackers. After the death and the reason behind her death hit the spotlight, wildlife enthusiasts, animal activists, celebrities, and the general public across the country had voiced against the cruelty and urged the government to detain the perpetrators who filled the explosives inside the fruit.

The Kerala Forest Department stated in Twitter that it has zeroed on the culprits and recorded the first arrest in the wild elephant death case. According to the reports, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has, on Thursday, asserted that the investigating teams have got three other suspects under its scanner and the officials of Kerala state police and the Crime Investigation Team of the forest department had visited the spot and collected evidence for interrogations.

The Chief Minister further stated that justice will prevail and all the suspects would be detained. Kerala Forest Minister K Raju said the forest department has installed three special teams to probe the death of the elephant, and the investigation is also been carried out by the state police. The Minister affirmed that the department will take stern actions against the perpetrators to ensure that Kerala has no grounds for such incidents in the future.

According to the PTI, the state forest department has been investigating the three suspects and the department has also launched the search operation for two more people who have been suspected behind the elephant's death. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has also expressed his anguish and displeasure over the horrific incident.

On May 27, the pregnant elephant has died while standing in the waters of the Velliyar River in Palakkad. She has got a grievous injury in her mouth and tongue after the firecrackers exploded inside her mouth after she ate the pineapple. With the arduous injury, she arrived at the river where she stood there with her half body, mouth, and truck submerged in water and with having a baby in her womb. 

The visuals and videos of the dreadful act of animal cruelty were shared on social media after which it has sparked deep anguish and outrage among animal lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and animal activists demanding immediate action against the culprits who were responsible for the death. The Mannarkkad Forest Division in Palakkad has filed an FIR against unidentified persons under section 9- prohibition of hunting any wild animal and section 51- offense committed to any animal specified in Schedule I under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Also read: 'Bring the responsible to justice': Voices grow as outrage over the death of pregnant elephant!