Rahul Gandhi writes to Karnataka CM to save injured baby elephant
Mysuru (PTI): "Anguished" by the plight of an injured baby elephant in the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve near here, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday urged Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to help the animal, saying it is in need of urgent medical care.
Rahul and Sonia Gandhi had on Tuesday visited the reserve where he saw the baby elephant.
In his letter to Bommai, Gandhi said he and the Congress president briefly visited Nagarhole Tiger Reserve where they happened to come across the painful sight of the injured baby elephant, with its mother.
The little calf has a severely injured tail and trunk, and is fighting for its life, he said.
"I understand and appreciate that there is a view that nature must be allowed to take its own course. However, in the case of endangered and iconic species, exceptions are often made depending on the severity of the situation. The aforementioned calf is undoubtedly in need of urgent medical care," he said in his letter.
"Therefore, I wanted to cross political boundaries and appeal to your sense of compassion to intervene and save the little elephant.
"I am confident that it will survive if given proper treatment. I hope you will extend timely assistance to save the iconic little elephant," Gandhi told the chief minister.
The former Congress chief earlier tweeted a picture of the baby elephant with the mother.
"A mother's love. I felt so sad to see this beautiful elephant with her injured little baby fighting for its life," he said on Twitter.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also tweeted Gandhi's letter to Bommai.
"On the day of rest for Bharat Jodo Yatra Rahul Gandhi visited the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve and was anguished by what he saw. Here is his letter of concern on India's national heritage animal, just sent to CM of Karnataka," Ramesh said.
A mother’s love.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 5, 2022
I felt so sad to see this beautiful elephant with her injured little baby fighting for its life. pic.twitter.com/65yMB37fCD
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Four police officials suspended over alleged custodial torture in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Four officials of the Fort Police Station here have been suspended in connection with an alleged custodial torture incident, police said on Friday.
The suspended personnel are Grade Sub-Inspector Sreekumar and Civil Police Officers Siju, Sunil and Gireesh.
Last week, Fort Police registered a case after a motorcycle was allegedly found stolen near a hotel here.
During the investigation, police identified two Kottayam natives, Jinu and Unni, as suspects.
Jinu was later taken into custody from Kochi, which led to the apprehension of Unni and a minor boy, officials said.
After initial interrogation, the minor was released.
However, family members of Jinu and Unni alleged that they were brutally assaulted while in custody.
After being remanded in judicial custody, Jinu’s condition reportedly worsened.
He was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital and later referred to the Government Medical College Hospital, officials said.
Police officials said Jinu suffered serious kidney dysfunction and remains in critical condition.
Unni was also admitted to the hospital with injuries, officials added.
Following allegations of custodial torture, Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner K Karthick ordered an inquiry by an Assistant Commissioner to ascertain whether custodial assault had taken place.
Police said the inquiry found that custodial assault had occurred and that arrest procedures were not properly followed.
Based on the report, the City Police Commissioner ordered the suspension of the four officers and initiated a departmental probe against them, police said.
