WAYANAD, India – A protest in the Wayanad district of Kerala turned violent on Saturday as demonstrators demanded a resolution to the increasing threat posed by wild animals. The strike was called by major political parties after the death of a man who was attacked by a herd of wild elephants, marking the third such death in less than a month. The Congress-led United Democratic Front, the Left Democratic Front, and the Bharatiya Janata Party all participated in the dawn-to-dusk hartal.
The protestors took to the streets, blocking roads, vandalizing a vehicle belonging to the Forest department, and even attacking police officers. The violent turn of events occurred in Pulpally, 30 km from the district headquarters of Kalpetta. Protestors also expressed their frustration towards local Congress legislators I.C. Balakrishnan and T. Siddique.
The situation has prompted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to call for a high-level ministerial meeting in Wayanad to address the issue and find a lasting solution to the human-wildlife conflict in the district. Additionally, three people have been killed in wildlife attacks in the district since January 30, further highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The escalating tension also led to Congress leader and Wayanad MP, Rahul Gandhi, cutting short his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh to visit the families of the victims in Wayanad. The protestors demanded a significant solatium for the family of the latest victim and also called for the capture of the elephant responsible for the attack.
Despite the government’s assurance of solatium for the victim’s family, the forest minister emphasized the need for a sustainable solution to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. However, the protestors’ violent actions may hinder stakeholders from reaching a resolution. The combing operation to capture the elephant responsible for the attack has also been unsuccessful for the past seven days, adding to the challenges faced in addressing the issue at hand.