Bengaluru, Aug. 20 -- * Howdah-carrier Dasara elephant Abhimanyu deserves royal send-off

* Ex-Forest Minister Khandre writes to Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy

* Recalls Abhimanyu's service in rogue elephant & tiger rescue operations

Following the disappointment expressed by wildlife lovers over ignoring Dasara veteran elephant Abhimanyu, who had carried 750-kg golden howdah during the previous year Jumboo Savari procession, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has written a letter to Forest Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy, to accord a befitting farewell to Abhimanyu.

This follows the surprise decision of the Forest Department to drop Abhimanyu from this year's Mysuru Dasara as he has completed 60 years, in compl...