Tusker tortured at temple

KOCHI: A 22-year-old tusker Sriraman has been allegedly tortured at the Poornathrayeesa temple in Tripunithura, with wounds inflicted on its back and its trunk.The tusker belonging to the Cochin Devaswom  Board was tortured in the pretext that it had not obeyed the mahout.The elephant was reportedly beaten with sticks and iron bars, Heritage Animal Task Force secretary V K Venkatachalam told reporters.  He said that a complaint had been registered with the Vigilance, Chief Conservator of Forests. “It is not the first time that such an incident was happening at the temple, he said. Another tusker, Ravipuram Govindan, was tortured here in May. “Three cases had already been filed against the Board secretary and the temple officer for torture of elephants in the last eight years, “Venkatachalam said.