Thiruvananthapuram: Forest department has registered a case against Vellanad panchayat president and CPM leader Vellanad Sasi after he killed a porcupine that strayed into a house. The incident took place at a house at Valiyara in Vellanad on Saturday morning. The animal was first noticed around 7.30am at the house owned by Rajitha, where Arun and his family are staying on rent. The family alerted residents and informed ward member Shailaja, who subsequently communicated the matter to the panchayat president so that the forest department could be notified.According to residents, Sasi reached the spot before the rapid response team (RRT) from the forest department arrived. Despite being told that officials had been informed and they were on their way, he allegedly used an iron pipe found on the premises to beat the porcupine to death. By the time the forest department team reached the house, the animal had already died. Sasi reportedly left the scene soon after the incident.A team from the Paruthipally forest range later conducted an inspection under the leadership of RRT officer Roshini. Deputy range officer P Anilkumar, section forest officer Arun A, beat forest officers Roshni G S and Amal Krishna S S and watcher Ranjith were part of the team that examined the site. The carcass was shifted to forest department and a postmoterm will be conducted. Forest officials said a case has been registered against Sasi under Sections 2(2), 2(16), 9, 39, 50 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act. They added that killing a protected species such as a porcupine is punishable and can invite up to three years’ imprisonment.“We had been informed about the presence of the animal and were on the way to safely handle the situation. However, before we could intervene, the animal was killed,” a forest official said. Officials confirmed that efforts are under way to take the accused into custody. Sources said Sasi has switched off his phone and is believed to have travelled towards Nedumangad. Forest personnel have begun search efforts, and he is currently not believed to be in the Vellanad area.
