Strong protest in Kerala over woman's death in tusker attack

A 70-year-old woman was killed in a wild elephant attack at Neriamangalam in Idukki-Ernakulam (Kochi) border areas on Monday.

Thiruvananthapuram: An elderly woman was killed in a wild elephant attack at Kanjiraveli near Neriamangalam in Idukki district of Kerala on Monday.

The incident triggered strong protest as it is the fifth death in wild animal attacks in the region since January.

Last Monday an autorickshaw driver died in a wild elephant attack near Munnar in Idukki.

Agitated local people led by Congress MP Dean Kuriakose and MLAs staged a protest with the body of the deceased insisting that ministers concerned should reach the spot and give firm assurance on measures to address man-animal conflict. Police later used force to disperse the agitators and shifted the body.

It was by around 8.30 am on Monday when Kanjiraveli native Indira Ramakrishnan, aged around 70, was attacked by a wild elephant while she was working at a farm. Couple of other women had a narrow escape. 

Forest minister A K Saseendran said that the Congress was trying to politicise the issue.

Idukki MP Dean Kuriakoe alleged that the government was not taking any effective measures to mitigate man-animal conflict despite massive loss being suffered by farmers.

Last month Wayanad in Kerala had witnessed strong protests over the back to back deaths in wild elephant attacks. Even union forest minister Bhupender Yadav had come down to Wayanad. Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi had also visited homes of the victims.