One Railway Engine (loco engine number- 12440 WDG4) has been seized from the possession of Senior DME/Diesel/New Guwahati, Chandra Mohan Tiwari at Bamunimaidan Railway Yard, Diesel loco shed for killing 2 Indian elephants (schedule 1(12B) animal under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 at Railway Track KM post number 180/9 and 181/9 between Patharkhula and Lamsakhang Railway Station on September 27, 2020 midnight.

The seizure operation was conducted under the supervision of Wildlife Warden of AssamNalini Kumar Kalita, Forester-1 of Lumding Forest Range, Lumding under Nagaon South Division, Hojai on October 20, 2020, at about 1.25 pm.

The seized loco engine was later given back into the custody of Senior DME/Diesel/New Guwahati, Chandra Mohan Tiwari in view of the continuity of essential services to the public and others. In a ‘Zimmanama’ Tiwari also agreed to pay Rs 12 cr for any loss and damage of the seized property.

Following the investigation, Mahendra Kumar Yadava, IFS, Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam said that the sad incident of killing of one female elephant and her calf by a goods train engine in Lumding RF on the 27th September, 2020 has been very vigorously pursed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 against the railway authorities, and the Department instituted an enquiry under the Act. Accordingly, a team of forest officials proceeded to Bamunimaidan Loco Shed and seized the Diesel Loco Engine. Also earlier, already the Loco Pilot and the Asstt Loco Pilot have been suspended by the Railways in an internal enquiry of theirs.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Environment And Forest, Parimal Suklabaidya said that the Department shall not fail to take toughest stand against the Railways. The killing of elephants on the railway tracks must stop forthwith.