Thrissur: Two men from Tamil Nadu have been taken into custody by the Forest Department for allegedly provoking a wild elephant 'Kabali' on the Athirappilly–Malakkappara road. The accused are Njanavel Vasu and Seelan Kumar, both residents of Coimbatore.

The incident took place on October 19, when a group, including the duo, tried to provoke a tusker known locally as Komban Kabali, which had entered the road. The accused recorded the act on their mobile phones and later shared the video on social media, sparking widespread public outrage.

The Forest Department, which had been investigating the incident, took the two into custody and seized their vehicle. They were brought to the scene for verification and later released after questioning.

Officials said Kabali, a tusker known to frequent the Athirappilly–Malakkappara region, was in musth at the time of the incident. The Forest Department had earlier issued warnings against disturbing the animal.