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A viral video showing a wild female elephant dying after being set ablaze by people in West Bengal's Jhargram has sparked a huge uproar on social media. The elephant was reportedly pregnant, according to some people.
In the viral video, the elephant writhes in pain after flaming iron nails are thrown at the animal from a nearby home. The tusker later succumbs to its burn injuries on the road. In another video, a group of people are seen holding burning rods and setting the elephant on fire.
State Forest Officer Birbaha Hansda did not comment on the viral video, but a senior forest official told PTI that it took note of the clip. "We have heard about the incident and seen the video. We are looking into the matter," the official said.
Several people on social media condemned the act and demanded stern action against the culprits.
"A mother elephant was tragically killed in #Jhargram, West Bengal, right in front of forest officials by the hullah parties (teams of the Forest Department tasked with driving elephants away from towns and villages). This brutal act demands immediate action. @PetaIndia, do you even care?" a user wrote.
Another wrote, "As per news, one elephant was killed mercilessly with a burning rod inserted in her body by morons with the help of Forest Department officers in Jhargram, West Bengal. Please take action against these culprits."
@KolkataPolice, @jhargram_police, please take strong action against these monsters," another user said.
Director Tathagata Mukherjee, who made the film 'Pariah' about abuse of street dogs, shared the video on Facebook, saying, "In the constituency of the forest minister, a pregnant elephant has been murdered by a private hula party (local civilians tasked with managing wild elephants). Everyone is silent."
Actor Srilekha Mitra also expressed her distress on Facebook, saying, "Are we moving towards destruction? I can't tolerate such violence and aggression towards animals."
