Bandipur: In a tragic incident, an elephant named Vinayaka, also known as Akkiraja, residing at the Rampura elephant camp in the Bandipur tiger reserve, passed away on Tuesday.

The sudden demise occurred after the elephant fell ill and collapsed during a training session at the camp. The exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, pending the post-mortem report, according to officials from the Forest Department.

Vinayaka, originally captured in the forest areas of Coimbatore in 2021, had later been relocated to the Madumalai Tiger Reserve. The elephant had become a source of concern for the residents of Yelachetti village due to its aggressive behavior. It had attacked houses in the Kundukere area of the Bandipur tiger reserve, prompting local families, who had been living there for several years, to appeal for the capture of the wild elephant.

Their pleas resulted in a capture operation led by the Forest Department in June this year, relocating the elephant to the Rampura elephant camp, where it was renamed 'Karna'.

K Paramesh, Assistant Forest Conservator of the Hedeyala subdivision, expressed surprise at the sudden deterioration of Vinayaka's health. Despite showing no prior signs of illness, the elephant unexpectedly collapsed during its training session. Despite the efforts of veterinary doctors, the elephant did not respond to treatment, leading to its demise.

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Mumbai, Apr 3 (PTI): A special NIA court on Thursday granted interim bail to Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case accused Mahesh Raut from April 20 to May 16 to appear for his law degree exams.

Raut was arrested in 2018 for his alleged role in the case and is currently lodged in Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai.

Special Judge Chakor Bhaviskar granted Raut bail to appear for the second semester Bachelor of Laws (LLB) exams in Mumbai.

The special National Investigation Agency court granted Raut temporary relief on executing a personal recognition bond of Rs 50,000 with a surety of the same amount.

The court also allowed him to appear for the semester one ATKT (allowed to keep terms) exam on April 4 and viva-voice and assignment presentation on April 9 under police escort.

It also directed Raut to furnish proof of his residential address for this period as well as an active mobile number to jail authorities and the probe agency.

The accused shall not misuse the liberty granted to him and shall immediately surrender to the jail authority on the same day when the examination is over, the court said.

Raut and 14 other activists were booked in connection with allegedly provocative speeches that were delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017. It triggered violence at Koregaon Bhima there the next day.

As per Pune police, the conclave was backed by Maoists.

The National Investigation Agency later took over the probe into the case.