Munnar: Wild tusker 'Padayappa' created panic among locals in Devikulam after roaming near human settlements on Monday. The tusker, also known as Munnar Padayappa, vandalised agriculture plots and destroyed fencing and hen's coop. The tusker also ate vegetables and fruits. 

The elephant invaded the human settlements at around 6:30 am and left by 9:30 am. Meanwhile, the locals said that the same elephant was involved in similar incidents in the past. For instance, on Sunday, the elephant tried to attack a ration shop in the factory division here. 

The wild tusker, around 50 years old, received the unique name from the character in the 1999 Tamil movie Padayappa. 

Though the tusker is known for its peaceful demeanour, locals claim that Padayappa has recently become more aggressive, posing a threat to human settlements in the Munnar region.