KOZHIKODE: Farmers of Vadakkanad village close to the jungle in Wayanad are boycotting forest officials for the last many weeks in protest against failure to stop recurring crop raids by elephant herds. Villagers deny forest officials and field staff on patrol grocery and other provisions and even keep off passing information on wildlife movements into human habitats. They formed special squads in each area to maintain round the clock vigil.
Action council chairman Fr Joby Mukkattu Kavungal told DC they were outraged at not keeping the promises to end the menace in ten days. They received the assurance at an all-party meeting in the presence of forest minister on March 27.
“Leaders and legislators representing all political parties were there,” he said. “Surrounded by jungle we live a life always expecting attacks from wild tuskers. The other day, it was a narrow escape for a villager. A tusker is in the habit of attacking humans whenever it comes across.”
“Without trans-locating it from the spot life of residents would remain a nightmare. Every villager is scared to move around even during the day," he added. Forest officials blame farmers for not cooperating with them on monitoring elephant movements. But farmers say if they intimate them about elephant raids, they must get tools, poles and ensure protection.
“We are capable of keeping away elephants from our land,” said Binu Prabhakaran, a resident. “We will not allow them to enter our land in the name of scaring away elephants. We can manage it ourselves.” The agitation started on March 16 in front of the Wayanad Wildlife Warden at Sulthan Bathery under the banner Vadakkanadu Grama Samrakshana Samithy. The action council has the backing of the entire people of the village which includes three wards (1, 2 and 3) of the most hit Noolpuzha village panchayat which has 2000 households and more than 6,000 population.
