New Delhi, June 3: Reacting to the inhuman incident where a pregnant elephant was fed with pineapple stuffed with firecrackers in Kerala, parliamentarian and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday said it was a murder. The elephant had died after being seriously injured by firecrackers hidden in a pineapple. Speaking to news agency ANI, Maneka Gandhi opined that Kerala's Malappuram district is known for animal cruelty. HORRIFYING! Pregnant Elephant's Death After Being Fed Pineapple Filled With Crackers In Kerala Is New Low For Humanity, Furious Netizens Demand Justice For The 'Mother and Baby'.

"It's murder. Malappuram is famous for such incidents. It's India's most violent district. For instance, they throw poison on roads so that 300-400 birds and dogs die at one time," Gandhi said. The brutal incident had taken place last month. According to Samuel Pachuau, the Wildlife Warden of the Silent Valley National Park, some people had placed firecrackers inside a pineapple and this was eaten by the wild pregnant elephant and in the process of chewing the cracker burst and injured the elephant.

Maneka Gandhi's Statement:

The Kerala forest department officials came to know about the seriously injured elephant near a water source outside the National park on May 23. "We summoned a veterinarian and later on the 25th an elephant expert David Abraham came and examined and explained to us the bad situation," said Pachuau.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 03, 2020 05:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).