Death of man in Wayanad jumbo attack: Locals stage massive protest with dead body

Mananthavady: Following the tragic death of a middle-aged man (Aji) in an elephant attack earlier this morning, Mananathavady has been currently witnessing raging protests with forest officials being blamed for inefficiency in discharging their duties. Protestors marched on the street carrying Aji’s dead body demanding the district collector to issue an order to shoot and kill the wild jumbo. Amidst the proceedings, the residents also blocked the vehicle of the district police chief who arrived at the place.

Wayanad SP T Narayanan was on his way to the Mananthavady medical college. However, the locals blocked his vehicle raising ‘Go Back’ slogans. People asked the police chief to get out of his vehicle and walk towards the hospital. As the protests intensified, the top cop was forced to get out of his vehicle and eventually reached the hospital on foot. The locals laid siege to all the major roads in the hilly town.

As a mark of protest, people had first refused to accept Aji’s dead body. Meanwhile, protestors alleged that the laxity of forest officials led to the sad demise of the middle-aged victim. The locals claimed that despite the elephant venturing into Wayanad days ago, forest officials hadn’t taken any serious effort to inform the people regarding the imminent threat nor did they make any attempt to capture the elephant.              

Padamala native Aji (47) was killed in the elephant attack around 7:30 AM this morning. A curfew was imposed by the officials in the region post the incident.