Doomdooma Forest Division has opened a probe after a full-grown female Asian elephant was found dead in a paddy field near human habitation in Tinsukia district on Tuesday morning. The carcass was discovered at Balijan village in the Dwarmara Reserve Forest in a field owned by farmer Lehuka Pator after locals alerted wildlife activists and forest officials.
Villagers said the elephant may have died on Monday but the body was noticed the following morning. Local residents and activists immediately raised concerns about possible human involvement, prompting an on-site response from forest personnel.
Electrocution is being investigated as a possible cause. Locals and wildlife campaigners say there have been repeated allegations that some farmers install live electric wires-or illegal electric fencing-around crop fields to deter elephants, a practice that has previously been linked to wildlife deaths in the area.
Wildlife activist Devajit Moran, who visited the spot, urged a thorough inquiry, saying the death fits a pattern of similar incidents in the belt over recent years and that several earlier cases pointed to electrocution. He called on the forest department to carry out a transparent investigation and to take strict action if illegal fencing is found.
Doomdooma divisional forest officer Puspadhar Borgohain said a team of veterinary experts and forest staff had been sent to conduct a post-mortem and collect evidence. “Our priority is to secure the site, collect all relevant evidence and ensure the post-mortem is conducted properly,” he said, adding that it was too early to confirm the cause until the post-mortem and probe results are analysed.
Forest officials said they will release further details once the post-mortem report and investigation findings are available. The case highlights ongoing human‑wildlife conflict in the region and the risks posed by illegal electrified barriers to both wildlife and local communities.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/elephant-found-dead-in-tinsukia-paddy-field-probe-on/articleshow/132244974.cms
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Publish Date: 2026-07-07 23:20:00
