Chandigarh, July 31 -- The Punjab forest department has rescued a captive female elephant in Barnala following allegations that it was being used for religious processions and begging despite suffering from serious health complications and being declared medically unfit for work.

Police have booked the elephant's owner, Jai Ram of Ludhiana, and three mahouts, Kavir Das and Bali, both residents of Sanjay Gandhi Colony in Ludhiana, and Sirtaaj Ali of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, for their alleged involvement in the mistreatment of the elephant.

The elephant, Laxmi, registered by its owner in Ludhiana, was traced to a bitumen plant at Handiaya on the Barnala-Bathinda road after Patiala-based environmentalist and wildlife rescuer Sahil Sharma ...