Ailing elephant rescued from forced labour in Barnala, 4 booked

The Punjab forest department rescued Laxmi, a captive female elephant, from a bitumen plant at Handiaya on the Barnala-Bathinda road in Barnala.

Laxmi was declared medically unfit for work in June 2026 due to severe leg deformities, septic hygroma in both elbows, blindness in the right eye, and tumours on hips.

Despite veterinary findings and a warning, owner Jai Ram of Ludhiana allegedly used Laxmi for religious processions and begging, transporting her without mandatory permissions under the Captive Elephant (Transport and Transfer) Rules, 2024.

Barnala police booked Jai Ram and three mahouts—Kavir Das, Bali, and Sirtaaj Ali—for mistreatment of the elephant.

Laxmi was shifted to Chhatbir Zoo in Mohali for medical treatment and a comprehensive veterinary examination.