1 suspended, 2 showcaused for jumbo deaths

KEONJHAR: Five days after the decomposed bodies of a 25-year-old female elephant and its newly born calf were discovered, the forest department suspended the forester of Talapada section and issued show-cause notice to two other officials for delay in reporting the deaths.
During postmortem, a 4-inch arrow head was recovered from the body of the female elephant. The divisional forest officer has suspended Purna Chandra Mohanta and issued notice to range officer Shivaji Mohan Rao and forest guard Jharana Sahu, a source said. Rao said he has been asked to respond within three days to the notice.
Though the exact date of the elephants' death is yet to be confirmed, the decomposed carcasses were recovered by forest officials on November 7 from Kalapat reserve forest.
Forest officials have yet not arrested anyone yet. As the elephant was moving from one range to another, it is believed the poisoned arrow may have struck the elephant some days back, making it difficult for the forest department to find the accused.Sources said staff shortage in the forest department becomes a key issue while dealing with elephants in Keonjhar division.