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Elephant gores owner to death. Picture for representational purpose
An elephant owner was gored to death, while he was trying to pacify it. The man killed has been identified as Babu Thomas (49), Ozhakkal, Poonjar, one of the owners of Pala Timbers.

The tusker called Shekharan alias Kichan, had been chained at Babu's property during the last few days as he was not well. Shekharan again showed symptoms of 'musth' when he was moving timber at Muppathekkar, Mangalagiri, near Theekkoy. Babu, who came to know about it, arrived at the spot and went near the elephant with some fruit to placate it. The elephant gored Babu who died on the spot. Although the first mahot, also named Babu, was riding the elephant, he wasn't able to control the violent animal.

The animal then ran back to the place where he was chained in the morning through the road. Although the mahot, and Shaul from Erattupetta chained the elephant again, it kept on trying to break free. It even uprooted rubber trees near it. After that, the elephant let the mahout come down. The animal was calmed down after a tranquilliser shot was fired at it by Dr. Sabu Issac of Elephant Squad, Kottayam.

Earlier, the elephant used to obey the commands of the owner Babu, even if the elephant was angry. Babu had bought the elephant 15 years ago from Pathanamthitta. The animal had killed two people after that. In 2006, the elephant had killed Vijayan of Payyanithottam, who was walking along the road. After the incident, the RDO issued an order saying that the elephant was dangerous and should be shifted to Meenachil Taluk.

Although he was kept away for a some time, he was brought back considering his ability to move timber. The second man to be killed by Shekharan was timber merchant Joy, hailing from Ottayeetti.

Led by Pala DySP Sunesh Babu and SI Sureshkumar, police rushed to the spot. The Fire Force squad from Erattupetta also came to the scene. The body of Babu is kept at the mortuary of a private hospital. The funeral will be held at 11.30 am at Poonjar St. Mary's Forane Church on Saturday. He is survived by his wife Ancy and three children.