Foresters in Bankura on Saturday recovered the carcass of a fully grown elephant from a village in North Bankura division, the third such incident within 10 days in the Jungle Mahal area.

Sources said it seemed the elephant died after being electrocuted by a live wire put around a paddy field in Belbani village.

“We have filed a police complaint against the owner of the land. We have started a probe and stern action will be taken as putting up such live wires is illegal,” said Kalyan Rai, divisional forest officer of Bankura North.

After the news of the tusker’s death spread, several residents came to Belbani village and condemned the practice of putting up live wires as a deterrent to wild animals.

Foresters said such a practice was prevalent among farmers of Jungle Mahal pockets, which are known for the movement of elephants.

Leopard spotted

Foresters in Purulia have started a campaign in Kotshila forest areas asking villagers not to enter “deep zones” as a leopard has been spotted in the area.

Sources said forest officials in Purulia had installed several trap cameras to find out the identity of the predator after the carcass of a cow was found on the fringes of the jungle.

“The apparent style of attack worried us and we set trap cameras. After a few days of vigilance, we spotted a leopard there,” said Debasish Sharma, divisional forest official of Purulia.