Explosive meal kills two jumbos

Yasaratne Gamage and Anuradhapura central special corr.

A tusker and an elephant died when they ate a locally made explosive called hakka patas at Nachchaduwa in Mahanewa, Ipalogama. According to Anuradhapura veterinary surgeon Chandana Jayasinghe, the two elephants had eaten the locally made explosive balls which is a combination of iron and explosives.

Villagers use these traps to hunt wild pigs. The two elephants had eaten a pumpkin in which the explosives were hidden, investigations revealed.

The tusker believed to be eight years was found dead at Mahanewa jungle area in Ipalogama while the other elephant aged six had died at the Nachchaduwa tank.

The Forest Rangers have caught the suspect who had set up traps. He was due to be produced in Court on Friday.