Tribal farmer killed in wild elephant attack in Idukki
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A 47-year-old tribal farmer was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Panthadikkalam, near Santhanpara, under the Devikulam forest range in Idukki on Wednesday morning. The deceased was identified as Vijayan, 47, a resident of the Panthadikkalam tribal settlement.
Forest officials said Vijayan was returning to his farmland from a relative’s house. As he stepped onto the road, he encountered a wild tusker locally known as ‘Chakkakompan’. Although he attempted to flee, the elephant charged and trampled him to death. Local people rushed to the spot on hearing the elephant’s trumpeting and found Vijayan’s body.
Officials added that the tusker had entered Vijayan’s farmland on Tuesday night. The rapid response team had issued a warning advising residents to remain indoors. However, believing the animal had retreated to the forest, Vijayan ventured out, leading to the fatal encounter.
Following the incident, local people and relatives of the victim staged a five-hour-long protest, blocking authorities from moving the body. The protesters demanded the relocation of three problematic wild elephants from the area, government job for one of Vijayan’s family members, and the removal of illegal fencing on revenue lands that obstructs natural elephant corridors.
Tension eased after Munnar Divisional Forest Officer Abhay Yadav and Periyar Tiger Reserve Assistant Wildlife Warden R. Lakshmi came to negotiate with the protesters. Forest officials agreed to consider their demands, with Ms. Lakshmi announcing the department’s decision to capture and translocate problematic elephants from the Chinnakkanal region.
The police subsequently shifted the body to the Idukki Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Vijayan is survived by his wife, Devi, and four children Aneesh, Bineesh, Sethu Lakshmi, and Vijayalakshmi.
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