Kaziranga’s pride tusker ‘Joyraj’ dead
Kaziranga (Assam): The pride of Kaziranga National Park’s pride Joyraj, an elephant famed for his multi-faceted role in park activities, died on Wednesday following old-age ailments, park officials said.
The over 11-feet tall male tusker was 73 years old and had retired from service with the Assam Forest Department in 2008 after serving for 65 years.
Joyraj was ailing for quite some time and was fully dependent on medicines and food provided by the KNP authorities as he was unable to gather his own food and water from the forest.
He had been actively involved in anti-poaching operations, rescuing animals during floods, ferrying tourists and officials during animal census and was chosen to lead in processions organised during elephant festivals held over the years. He had also played a major role in resolving fights among elephants during mating seasons.
Joyraj had been chosen for his towering height over other pachyderms, strength and his huge pair of five feet long tusks and had served in both Kohora and Bagori ranges of the Park, the sources said.
Mahout Mohan Karmakar said he can never forget the elephant’s personality, his majestic way of walking, his body language, behaviour and his alertness when carrying children and the way he flaps his ears to show he is happy. Joyraj’s last rites would be performed by the forest department within the Park. (PTI)
Grenade hurled at officer’s house
Imphal: A powerful grenade was lobbed at a house of a senior Manipur government official by the militants in Bishenpur district, police said on Wednesday.
The executive engineer of state public works department P Mani was at his residence at Thamnapokpi area in Bishenpur district at the time of the explosion on Tuesday evening.
Although there was no casualty, two cars of the officer were damaged in the blast, the police said. The militants escaped under the cover of darkness.
Sources close to the family said the militants had demanded a huge amount from the official a few months ago. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the explosion. (PTI)
Manipur Dy CM inspects police stations
Imphal: Gaikhangam, Deputy Chief Minister who holds the Home portfolio is on an inspection spree of police stations.
Home department official today said the Dy CM dressed as a police man inspected about ten police stations in three different districts yesterday.
In some of the police stations, the police personnel on duty could not identify the Deputy CM. After conducting inspection, Gaikhangam said he was happy with the developments seen in the police stations. He will continue the inspection. Manipur police personnel should be armed with modern weapons as the area is insurgency prone he added.
Special focus will be given in procuring high tech weapons and some of the police stations under construction may be operational by next month he added. He said in some of the police stations only few personnel were found manning the whole station. Most of the police stations are not having adequate strength he added. (UNI)