Two tribal persons killed in wild elephant attack in Kerala

Thrissur (Kerala) | Two tribal persons who had gone to collect forest produce were found killed in a wild elephant attack in the Athirappilly forests of this district, police said on Tuesday.

Congress leader V D Satheesan criticised the government for failing to prevent such incidents from happening.

The attack is suspected to have happened by 7.30 pm on Monday and the bodies of the deceased were sent to a nearby state-run hospital on Tuesday morning, they said.

The deceased, Ambika and Satheesh, were hailing from a tribal settlement in Vazhachal near here.

"They belonged to two tribal families staying in tents erected atop a rock to collect forest produce. It is suspected that a herd of wild elephants attacked the group in the night," a police officer said.

A search is on to verify if more persons were trapped inside the forest after running scattered seeing the wild jumbos in the night, police sources said.

With this incident, the number of persons died in the wild elephant attacks in the state in the last two days has become three.

A 20-year-old tribal man was killed in a wild elephant attack in Malakkappara in this district on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan came down heavily on the state government and forest minister A K Saseendran and said the authorities were doing nothing despite three lives were lost in the wild elephant attack in the last two days.

In a statement, he said despite repeated requests to take urgent measures, the government is remaining idle leaving the people living in the forest fringes to their fate.

"The government should take immediate steps to ensure special team surveillance at spots where elephants were straying frequently and to provide adequate protection to the people," he said.

The LoP wanted the forest minister to stop repeating his statement that wildlife attacks occur inside the forest.

"Two tribal persons who went to collect forest produce have been killed. Tribals live in the forests as per the Forest Rights Act. It is the government's responsibility to provide them security," he said.

Stating that Kerala is facing an unprecedented situation where wildlife attacks are occurring daily, Satheesan alleged that the government and the forest department are the main "culprits" for not addressing the real problems.

As many as 18 lives have been lost in wildlife attacks so far this year, he pointed out.

The LoP said when five people were killed by wild animals in February, the forest minister had assured immediate action to address the matter but has done nothing so far.

The government's indifference is unacceptable as the entire high range areas are living under the shadow of fear, he said adding that the job of the forest minister is not just seeking reports.

If immediate action cannot be taken, why should he continue in the office, Satheesan asked the forest minister.