Nilgiris tribals announce election boycott over deadly tiger attacks

The Nilgiris District Tribal Federation has announced that tribal communities across the district will boycott the upcoming Assembly elections, protesting against rising wildlife attacks and alleged inaction by authorities.

The decision follows a series of fatal tiger attacks that have claimed the lives of tribal residents in recent months. According to the federation, repeated appeals to forest officials to capture the rogue tiger have gone unanswered.

Tensions escalated after two members of the Puli Thakki tribal community were recently killed in separate tiger attacks. In addition to the threat posed by tigers, wild elephants have been frequently entering settlements and destroying agricultural crops, leaving villagers in constant fear.

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Representatives of the federation submitted a petition directly to the District Collector’s office, outlining their concerns and formally declaring their intention to boycott the polls unless immediate measures are taken to ensure their safety.

The Nilgiris is home to several tribal communities, including the Toda, Kothar, Irular, Paniyar, and Kattu Nayakkar, many of whom live in close proximity to forest areas. Over the past year, multiple incidents have heightened anxiety among residents, including the killing of a Toda youth in Governor’s Grove and the death of an elderly Toda man near Sandinalla last month.

With more than 50,000 tribal people living in the district, the federation said the continuing threat from wildlife and the lack of effective intervention have forced them to take a strong stand.