With this, the total number of elephants killed by the poachers has reached nine.
Officials said the carcasses of two elephants were spotted in the Ekkakauzhy region near the Athirappilly forests while the third one was found inside the Vazhachal forest division.
The carcasses were found during a search by the department, which took Jijo and Eldhose, key members of the poaching gang, along with them.
“The focus of the search will now be on the Athirappilly and Vazhachal regions, where the poachers reportedly hunted more elephants.
However, the huge concentration of wild elephants combined with adverse weather conditions in the area is preventing us from extensive combing of the area’’, said a senior forest official with the Malayattur forest division.
The department has so far arrested 28 persons in connection with the case and is on the lookout for six more for allegedly helping the poachers to go into hiding.
Meanwhile, yet another person arrested in connection with the case had been admitted to the Muvattupuzha general hospital, allegedly following custodial torture.
The latest to be hospitalised is Aji Bright, 12th accused in the case, sources said.
While reports suggesting that Aji suffered serious injuries to his spinal code have come out, the hospital authorities refused to share the details.
“Aji was admitted to hospital two days back and was discharged on Wednesday.
We cannot share any details about his treatment at this point of time’’, said Dr George, Regional Medical Officer, Muvattupuzha.
Earlier, three others, Prinston Silva, Sukumaran and Manoj, were also hospitalised allegedly after being injured in custody of the forest department.
“All the arrested persons have invariably sustained injuries below the knees’’, pointed out C.P Udayabhanu, counsel for Manoj, owner of the farmhouse where Vasu was found hanging.
The forest officials, meanwhile, denied the reports and pointed out that the accused had not raised it in the court.
The carcasses were found during a search by the department, which took Jijo and Eldhose, key members of the poaching gang, along with them.