Suspecting foul play, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Chhattisgarh assembly, Dharamlal Kaushik, on Sunday demanded a high-powered committee to probe the deaths of three female elephants in the state.
The report from the Centre for Wildlife Conservation Management and Disease Surveillance Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, mentioned the presence of some heavy metals and HCN (Hydrogen Cyanide) in the tissues of the dead elephants.
It ruled out the presence of chemicals used in fertilizer in the viscera sent for the test.
“There is no clear mention that pesticides consumption caused the deaths. On Monday, the state-level committee will meet and analyze it, after which we will be able to brief about the reasons for deaths,” Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Arun Pandey told The Pioneer over phone.
Three female elephants were found dead in Pratappur Range of Surguja and Balrampur Forest Division on June 10 and 11.
BJP's Kaushik alleged that the state government was not serious about elephant conservation.
“The government should form a high-level independent committee to probe the cause of deaths so that it can be clarified under what circumstances these are happening,” Kaushik was quoted as saying in a press release.
The death of seven elephants in the past one month is a matter of concern for us, the BJP leader said. On an average one elephant died every fourth day. It has raised many questions including what is the government doing for the conservation of wild elephants, he said.