A rogue elephant which had been creating a menace for the last one year in Madukkarai forest range here, killing at least three persons, was tranquilised and captured early today.

District Forest Officer in charge Periyasamy said the 'Mission Madukkarai Maharaj' operation to translocate the elephant by tranquilising it officially began yesterday.

The elephant, which used to visit Madukkarai area once a week, had not been seen since June 8, the day the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,ordered its translocation, bowing to pressure from public, farmers and politicians alike.

Periyasamy said four kumkis (trained and tamed elephants) had been brought in from different camps in Tamil Nadu in the last week to take part in the mission.

The officials initially faced a problem as the tusker was seen with two other elephants. However it got separated from them and was seen moving around near the military campus around 2 AM this morning.

A tranquiliser shot found its target and the pachyderm became semi-conscious. The three kumkis then made it get into to a truck at around 9 AM, he said.

Since the elephant was returning to its normal state, another mild tranquiliser dose was given.

Periyasamy said the elephant has been taken to Araliyar in Top Slip area, some 20 km from Pollachi in the district.