Human-animal conflict death triggers protests in Kerala

Angry local residents accused forest officials of failing to address the escalating human-animal conflict in the area. After discussions with the district administration, the protests were disbanded.

Eldose, who was the sole provider for his family, was interred in the evening. The Kerala government provided a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the victim's family, which includes his elderly parents and a sister. Priyanka Gandhi had raised the matter of human-animal conflict deaths in Lok Sabha on Monday.

Following the post-mortem at Kalamassery Medical College, Eldhose's body was kept for public viewing at his residence in Knacheri and at The Marthoma Church in Kurumattam, Chelode. Hundreds of people came to pay their final respects before his cremation at the church cemetery around 4:45 pm.

Eldhose was fatally attacked by a wild elephant around 8 pm on Monday. The 45-year-old security guard from Ernakulam had just returned home with Christmas gifts for his parents when the incident occurred as he walked home from the bus stop in the darkness.

In response, the local community, spearheaded by the People's Committee, organized a protest march to the forest department office in Kothamangalam, calling for long-demanded measures against the wild elephant threat, including the construction of a trench and proper fencing.

The revenue and forest departments, previously unresponsive, initiated trench construction on Tuesday morning, prompted by Eldhose's death and following assurances from the district collector to the community.