Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi visits family of tiger attack victim in Wayanad, assures support

The Wayanad MP will also be visiting the family of N M Vijayan, former district office-bearer of the party, who, along with his son, died by suicide.

Wayanad: Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday visited the family of the woman who was killed by a tiger last week in this high-range district in Kerala.

Priyanka, also the Congress general secretary, arrived at the Kannur airport and then travelled to Wayanad by road, a party source said.

She reached the home of Radha, who was killed by a tiger when she was out collecting coffee beans at the Priyadarshini Estate in Mananthavady village here on January 24, at around 1.15 pm and consoled the victim's family.

The 'man-eater' tiger that killed Radha was found dead in Kerala's high-range district of Wayanad on Monday and an autopsy on the dead cat revealed the presence of the victim's hair, dress, and a pair of earrings in its stomach, forest officials said.

'Man-animal conflict a complicated issue'

Priyanka Gandhi has said that the man-animal conflict is a big and complicated issue involving many factors, but what matters more is safeguarding human lives.

Priyanka also said that she will urge the Centre to allow more funds for man-animal conflict mitigation measures.

The Wayanad MP held talks with the district administration on steps to prevent the frequent man-animal conflict in the district. She also attended an ongoing 'Malayora Samara Yatra' (high-range march) led by Kerala opposition leader V D Satheesan.

Priyanka said that she would make efforts to utilise CSR funds for taking measures to mitigate man-animal conflict. All agencies need to work together to find a solution to safeguard human lives. She also urged the state government to take steps like appointing more forest watchers from the local community.

While reporters pointed out the state's contention that the central law was a hurdle in effectively dealing with the problem, she said that it was a complex problem and all had to work on it.

With PTI inputs