Union Minister blames Kerala government for Ananthu's death, says local bodies have been granted permission to kill wild boars

New Delhi: Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav has criticised the Kerala state government over the death of Ananthu, a 15-year-old boy, who was electrocuted by a wild boar trap in Vazhikadavu, Nilambur. He blamed the state government’s negligence for the tragedy. 

The Minister said that local bodies have been granted permission to kill wild boars that pose a threat to human life. He added that the state government had failed to take appropriate action to address the issue.

In Malappuram alone, there have been several instances of people dying from electric shocks caused by fences, he pointed out. Such incidents, the Minister alleged, are the result of negligence by both the state government and local administrative bodies.

He clarified that state forest officials have the authority to kill wild boars that endanger human life, and that special permission from the central government is not required. Kerala has exercised this authority in the past but is failing to do so when needed, the Minister said.

“The death of Ananthu in Vazhikadavu is tragic,” he said, noting that three people have died in similar incidents in 2025 alone. Yadav also pointed out that it is illegal to use 240 volts of electricity in electric fences.

The state government had argued that special permission from the Centre was required to kill dangerous wild boars. This claim was rejected by the Union Minister, who reiterated that local governing bodies have the authority to take action against aggressive wild animals.