As the sequel of tormenting an 18-year-old elephant Jayamalyatha at the Thekkampatti elephant rejuvenation camp, the Tamil Nadu Forest department had arrested two mahouts for their brutality, which shocked the state and showcased yet another animal cruelty. The incident had happened weeks after a man in the Nilgiris district had thrown a burning tire on an elephant that landed on its ear and later, the elephant had died due to grave injuries. 

The state forest department had arrested two men on Sunday after a video shot by the volunteers of Vanam Trust of India had shown that two of them were brutally beating up the elephant at a camp organized by the state government near Coimbatore. The video was shared on social media and it had stirred massive outrage with many demanding the government to take action against the two of them. 

In the video, the elephant was heard screaming in pain. However, both of them had tormented it. The elephant named Jayamalyatha belongs to Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, which is the emblem of the state government, and it has come for the rejuvenation camp along with several elephants across the state. The camp has been organized by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department near Coimbatore. 

According to the state forest department, the caretakers who attacked the elephant were identified as Vinil Kumar (46) and Sivaprasath (32). The two men were arrested on Sunday and an FIR has been registered against them under Rule 13 of Tamil Nadu Captive Elephant Management Rules 2011, under section 64 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The forest department has also instructed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department to manage the elephant as it belongs to a temple. 

The reports say that the caretaking of the elephant at the camp has now been handed over to Subramanian, who has experience in managing Jayamalyatha for the last three years. The video had gone viral on Sunday and the HR & CE Department had suspended one of the mahouts of the elephant and had ordered a probe into the incident. An examination of the elephant was conducted by the forest veterinary officer after the video came to the attention and it was found that the elephant has not injured because of the attack.