Farmers stage a protest in Chikkamagaluru’s Kalasa on Friday expressing concern over an increase in man-wild animal conflict.
Credit: DH Photo
Kalasa (Chikkamagaluru): A protest was staged in Kalasa on Friday condemning the death of a farmer gored by an Indian gaur near Lalithadri, Haluvalli, on Thursday and demanding measures to protect lives and crops.
Perturbed by increasing human-wildlife conflict, farmers launched a protest march from Kalaseshwara Temple and raised slogans against the Forest Department. The protest march culminated in a meeting at the Taluk Office premises.
Action plan
Kalasa Agriculture Credit Co-operative Bank president Manjappayya stressed the need for a state-level action plan to prevent human-wildlife conflicts.
BJP Leader Sheshagiri called for forming a district-level struggle committee to pressurise authorities to save lives and crops. He warned that farmers in Malnad would not survive if the issue remained unresolved.
‘Farmers will shoot Gaurs’
Farmer T V Venkatasubbaiah said several farmers have suffered injuries in animal attacks in the past three years. Three have already lost their lives due to the attack by Indian Gaurs. Due to fear of wild animal attacks, labourers refuse to work in plantations.
“Farmers will shoot Indian Gaurs if authorities fail to act,” he warned.
Besides seeking measures for the protection of farmers and crops, they called for the capture and relocation of Indian Gaurs to deep forests and permission to shoot aggressive wild animals threatening farmers’ lives and livelihoods.
They submitted a memorandum putting forth their problems and demands to the government through the tahsildar.