Coimbatore Farmers Arrested After Illegal Electric Fence Kills Male Elephant
Authorities in Sirumugai have detained a farm owner and a laborer following the electrocution of a tusker. The death occurred after the suspects allegedly bypassed solar circuits with high-voltage AC power.
Fatal Encounter at Vedar Colony
In the early hours of Monday, July 27, 2026, Forest Department patrols discovered the carcass of a male elephant in a banana plantation near Sirumugai. The animal died after coming into contact with a fence at a property in the Vedar Colony area of Chikkadasampalayam panchayat. While the perimeter was designed as a solar-powered deterrent, investigators found it had been illegally modified to carry lethal current.
Enforcement Action and Arrests
Following the discovery at 6:30 a.m., officials from the Sirumugai forest range arrested the farm owner, R. Kumar, and a 42-year-old laborer named Bakiyaraj. Investigators allege the pair connected an alternating current (AC) power source to the solar fence during the night to increase its intensity. This direct connection to the power grid transformed a standard deterrent into a deadly trap for local wildlife.
Surveillance and Compliance Gaps
The incident occurred despite regular monitoring efforts by the Forest Department and the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited. Key details regarding the enforcement timeline include:
- Recent Inspections: Joint teams searched the locality late last week using voltage detectors to ensure fences met safety standards.
- Midnight Modification: Officials claim the suspects energized the fence with AC power specifically during the midnight hours to evade detection.
- Ongoing Legal Process: Both Kumar and Bakiyaraj face charges related to the electrocution, with further investigations currently underway to determine the extent of the violations.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
