Meppadi: Alleging lapses by the Forest Department in curbing recurring wild elephant attacks in Wayanad, a group of farmers and residents of Meppadi staged a road blockade on the Meppadi–Chooralmala Road at Thanjilode from 7 am on Tuesday. They claimed that forest officials continued to ignore a wild elephant that had strayed into residential areas.
As the protesters refused to end the demonstration, police resorted to a lathi charge to resume traffic on the road.
During the dispersal, police arrested nine individuals who were leading the agitation and took them to the station. The protestors had placed a large tarpaulin sheet over themselves and demanded immediate action from the Forest Department, as well as an assurance from the District Collector.
RRT Team in action: The Rwpid Response Team of the forest department is tracking the problem elephant with drone, at Nellimunda, near Meppadi, on July 15. Photo: Special Arrangement
Forest Department officials, led by South Wayanad DFO Aijith K Raman, soon arrived at the site and began efforts to drive the elephant back into the forest. However, District Collector Dr DR Meghasree did not turn up, citing prior engagements.
MLA slams police
MLA T Siddique, who reached the protest site, told the media that two officials from the Armed Reserve Police camp “unleashed terror” despite the peaceful nature of the protest.
“The officials purposefully created a scene and beat up hapless farmers who were on a warpath for their right to live and protect their crops,” he said.
Later, Siddique and other political leaders intervened, and the detained individuals were released following a series of discussions with the police.
Three protesters and two policemen sustained minor injuries in the scuffle. A day earlier, angry farmers had blocked the interstate Kozhikode–Ooty road, demanding the immediate capture and translocation of the problem elephant from the area.
‘Life became a nightmare’
According to Jithin, a participant in the agitation, a permanent solution is needed for the continuous wildlife attacks in the region.
“We are unable to walk through village roads or farmland even during the daytime,” he said.
“Life has become a nightmare — a rogue elephant could kill us at any time. Only when one of us is killed do the administration and leaders come forward with promises — but none of them materialise,” he added.
He suspects the elephant roaming in the area is the same one that killed Arumukhan, a local resident, a few weeks ago.
“The animal should either be captured using tranquilliser darts or driven back deep into the forest using Kumki elephants,” Jithin added.
He said the protesters had already demanded that South Wayanad DFO Ajith K Raman deploy the entire Rapid Response Team (RRT) and use thermal drones to locate the elephant.
“We are forced to take to the streets and demand the presence of the District Collector at the site, as previous promises by the MLA and DFO have failed to yield results,” he said.
The agitation was called off by noon after political leaders and the District Administration assured that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure the villagers’ safety. An RRT team led by DFO Ajith K. Raman is currently active in the area, using drones to locate the elephant and protect residents.