The operation to capture the rogue elephant that has been wrecking havoc in Madukkarai for the last one year began today.

The operation termed ‘Mission Madukkarai Maharaj’ follows intense pressure from farmers and general public. The principal chief conservator of forests in Chennai had ordered to tranquilize and trans locate the pachyderm that had killed three persons and destroyed crops worth lakhs.

Four kumkis (trained elephants) were brought in from various camps in the State for the purpose. Trials were also carried out on how to take the elephant to the kraal and to the lorry for trans locating.

However, officials had a problem as the animal was seen in the company of two more elephants. But today officials were informed of a herd of elephants entering a farm and destroying banana plantations early today in Ettimadai, some five kms from the place of operation.

Officials are hopeful of capturing the elephant within 78 hours as they are sure of zeroing in on the location in another 48 hours. But the question is how to identify the rogue elephant and tranquilize it.

Earlier officials from the forest and animal husbandry departments, anti poaching squad performed a puja for the smooth capture of the animal.

Meanwhile, an unconfirmed report said that the elephant, in the company of four more elephants, was seen moving around the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.