Idukki: A fan of rice-loving lone tusker Arikomban has installed a statue of the jumbo spending Rs 2 lakh from his pocket. The fan is Kanjukuzhy native Babu and the intriguing incident took place in Idukki. 

Babu, a farmer cum businessman, decided to carve an eight-feet tall statue of Arikomban in front of his shop out of sheer love and gratitude for the elephant. 

Apparently, Arikomban had attacked Babu’s ginger cultivation in Chinnakanal, five years back. “Following the attack, the gingers grew exponentially and gave him a good yield,” says Babu.

The statue, which was carved by sculptor Binu, a Punnayar native, has now become the new attraction of the area with locals clicking pictures with their very own ‘Arikomban’.