Balangir, May 26: Action has intensified in the tusker death case reported near Chanutmal village under Muribahal forest range in Odisha’s Bolangir district, with non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against three persons, including a landowner and two electricity department staffers.

The warrants have been issued against cashew plantation owner Sanjeeb Putel, electricity department official Mohammad Juned, and lineman Ajit Taria in connection with the electrocution death of a tusker.

The incident had come to light on April 30 after the carcass of the elephant was recovered from a cashew orchard owned by Sanjeeb Putel. Initial suspicion pointed towards electrocution caused by contact with a live electric wire. While the electricity department had denied the allegation at first, the post-mortem report later confirmed that the tusker died due to electric shock.

Following the incident, Gudighat Forester Jayakrishna Bhoi was placed under suspension. The Forest Department later filed a chargesheet against the three accused, following which the court issued non-bailable warrants against them on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, allegations have surfaced that the Forest Department is attempting to shield the Muribahal Ranger by restricting action only to suspension of the forester involved in the case.