“WHEN HUMANS ACT WITH CRUELTY, WE CHARACTERIZE THEM AS ‘ANIMALS’, YET THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT DISPLAYS CRUELTY IS HUMANITY”.
We all are aware of the heinous crime against a pregnant elephant yesterday. Since, yesterday, I am getting so many notifications regarding the incident and the pictures depicting a mother and an unborn baby elephant, who is saying his mother that mom, see these humans are so good and helpful that they are providing us fruits.
After consuming that pineapple, filled with firecrackers, the mouth bursted and the elephant went to a water body nearby. As soon as the elephant stood in the water body, the innocent creature left for heaven, along with her baby.
कर्मण्ये वाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana |
This is famous shloka from Shreemad Bhagwat Gita(Chapter 2, Verse 47) in which Shree Krishna is enlighting Arjun about how to perform karma (own work) in a right way. In recent days what our civilization is facing is the fruits of plant that we humans are sowing since industrialization era.
We don’t care about the environment and the animals which stay in it. Humans have almost forgotten the Habitat For Humanity.
We have crossed all limits of being selfish- Cutting trees, killing animals for our greedy needs. Humans have destroyed and arrogated there home and claimed it as ours. In recent years what we are facing is the onslaught of our own deeds.
The Amazon fire, Australian forest fire, Climatic change, the cyclones, earthquakes. Corona Virus pandemic are few such examples of the awry that nature has shown us. The most recent one is the killing of a pregnant elephant in Kerala by some whimsical people just for fun.
Killing just for fun or keeping them away from their natural habitat. Yes there are no limits to our knave behavior.
How can someone be so cruel? A pregnant wild elephant originally belonging to Silent Valley National Park (SVNP), Palakkad, met with a tragic death. After a hooligan fed it a pineapple packed with firecrackers inside. The 15-year-old pregnant elephant was in search of food for her and the calf inside her. All she got was a pineapple filled with firecrackers which led to her death.
The incident tore humanity apart. It shows animals are less wild and humans have become worse and a curse for this planet. It also shows how people can turn beautiful things in the most unaccepted and deceptive way.
Kerala a place know as God’s Own Country. A state having the highest literacy rate (93.91%) and people still doing things in the most absurd way possible.
This also is proof that literacy rate doesn’t guarantee common sense or humanity. In a country where people believe in Idolism and bhagwan. We go to temple and pray in front of our Idols ike Lord Ganesha (who looks like an elephant). For our pleasure and on the other side such incidents happen.
It looks like even the pandemic is not able to show us how we are moving in dark path and we are still not ready for the change.
The wild animals like Elephant are already facing a decline in the numbers because of the human interference, and we are still taking them for granted. There is a need to inquest this matter seriously and not shun it like any other case.
What we are doing today will be returned back to us (Do you remember how devastating the 2018 flood in Kerala was). So make it worthy. Make this world a happy place for everyone, especially for the voiceless living here.
In the case of SHAUKAT ALI VS. STATE OF U.P
The Hon. High court of Allahabad, opined that the petitioner must prove his possession towards the elephant. Under section 42 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (about the certificate of ownership of the elephant) and disposed off the petition thereof.
On 9th August, 2018, the Supreme court did something extraordinary. In the case of A. RANGARAJAN & ORS. V. UNION OF INDIA & 0RS., which was tagged with several related cases on the issue of securing elephant corridors.
The Apex court directed the Tamil Nadu Govt. to seal or close down 39 hotels and resorts constructed on an “ELEPHANT CORRIDOR” in the Nilgiri hills in the violation of law, within the next 48 hours.
Hon. Justice Madan Lokur along with Justice S.Abdul Nazeer and Justice Deepak Gupta also said that Elephants are the country’s “national heritage” and expressed displeasure about encroachments.
It was a historic judgment by the Hon. Supreme Court on India’s elephants.
There is another landmark case on the ivory of an elephant. Famous actor Mohanlal was charge sheeted by Kerala Forest Department for the illegal possession of ivory and he failed to inform the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) about this transfer and possession.
G. DHANIKLAL, the range forest officer submitted the charge sheet against the actor and 3 others for the violation of Wildlife protection Act, 1972.
The four were accused in the charges of section 39 (wild animals etc. to be a government property), section 40 (declarations made regarding the control, custody of any captive animal as specified in schedule 1 of the said act), 49 A and B (regarding the sale of animal articles) and 57 (presumptions made in certain cases) of the said act.
Forest officials were of the view that these offences are held liable upto 7 years of rigorous imprisonment or Fine.
“THE GREATNESS OF A NATION AND ITS MORAL PROGRESS CAN BE JUDGED BY THE WAY ITS ANIMALS ARE TREATED”
–MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI
I think, now this quote by our Bapu, is shrinking day by day, as we have not left any Habitat for Humanity even for our animals, from whom we get all the love, affection, and some of the nutrients as well.
Now, a question arises that how these offenders will held liable as per the Indian Law. As per Section 429 of the INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860. Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless, any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox. They should be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 5 years, or with fine or both.
Hence, we can say culprits behind this incident, will be punishable under section 429 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
At last, I would like to end up by saying that if we are with some percentage of humanity. Then we should stop others in doing these cruel acts.
Also, I would humbly request our Apex Court to deliver strict and fair judgment in this case, so that the offenders and the other master minds would think thrice before doing these acts.
We all know that we have our voices to be heard in the court of law. The thing is who is there for these speechless creatures. We all must come forward to be their voices.
Special Credits : Arunim Kathuria and Madhvendra Singh
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