Muralidharan Pillai
Mayabunder, Aug 01: It is reported that a senior most Forest Ranger, Mr. L.Alphonse presently posed at Nicobar Division Campbell Bay who is a Forester of 1979 batch and one of the most experienced officers having a proficiency of tranquilizing rogue elephants, arrived along with Military gunmen at Mayabunder Helipad by I.A.F.Chopper at 1430 hours.
He was boarded at Campbell Bay at 1000 hrs and reached Port Blair by the Helicopter arranged by the A & N Administration. From Port blair then he was flown to Mayabunder.
Mr. G.N.Sinha, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr. Anisha Kalkoor, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Mrs. Menaka, IAS, D.C North and Middle Andaman, Mr. Santhosh Kumar Meena, IPS, SP, North & Middle Andaman and other senior officers were present at helipad to receive Mr. L.Alphonse.
He is reportedly the only officer in the Forest Department, who is able to make tranquilizing cartridges himself and has successfully tranquilized the rogue elephants in several occasions in the past and brought under control with his professional skills. He has reportedly proved his abilities in 2006 and 2010 at the time of killing of employees of Forest Department viz. Late Pitrus Kerketta, FCL on 09.11.2006 and Late Telesphor Xess on 14.03.2010 by the same elephant “SANJEEV PRASAD’.
It is reported that, an aerial survey was conducted in the IAF Chopper under the supervision of Mr. L.Alphonse with some other officials from 1445 hours to 1555 hours over the jungle of Mohanpur and Austin II area. But the team could not trace out the rogue elephants and other two female elephants.
In the evening at 1800 hours, a high level meeting consisting Shri G.N.Sinha, IFS, PCCF, Smti Menaka, IAS, DC N&M, Shri S.K.Meena, IPS, SP N&M, Shri L. Alphonse and other senior officers held at Chengappa Transit Accommodation, Mayabunder, where they discussed various strategies to chalk out the future plan to shoot at sight the rogue elephant without harming the two female elephant roaming in the jungle with him.
It is reported that Shri Alphonse will lead the team tomorrow at 0800 hours and start their combing operation to search out the elephant, which has created havoc.
