Thiruvananthapuram | CPI(M) leader and Vellanad village panchayat president 'Vellanad' Sasi, who had been absconding in connection with a case of allegedly beating a porcupine to death, surrendered before forest officials on Tuesday.

He surrendered at the Paruthipally forest office in the evening, they said.

"He came and surrendered at the forest office. He will be taken for a medical examination before producing before the magistrate," a forest official said.

The case relates to an incident on February 28, when a porcupine reportedly entered the compound of a local house in Vellanad.

Sasi allegedly beat the animal to death using a wooden plank. Television visuals of the incident showed him repeatedly attacking the animal.

According to forest officials, the porcupine is a protected species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, and non-bailable sections were invoked against him.

The offence is punishable with imprisonment extending to several years along with a fine, they said.

On the day of the incident, a forest team had reached the panchayat office to take Sasi into custody, but he had gone into hiding.