Protest against growing deaths due to wild animal attacks
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala is stating a hartal in Wayanad district on Thursday to protest the government's failure to protect residents from increasing elephant attacks.
Four persons have lost their lives due to elephant attacks in the last four days. Balakrishnan of Attamala was the latest victim who was trampled to death by wild elephant on Tuesday night.
Opposition leader V D Satheeshan cititicised the government for its failure to addresss wild animal attacksin various parts of hte state. "The victimsof these ttacks are not poaghers, Maosits or individuals illegally tresspassing into forest areas. Theya re ordinary people living in regions adjacent to the forests. It is unfortunate that the government has completely failed to protect the public. The authorities are only holding meetings and conferences, but no concrete actions are being taken on the ground," he said.
UDF Wayanad district chairman K K Ahmed Haji and convenor P T Gopalakurup stated that essential services and travel for examinations, weddings and the Palikunnu festival have been exempted from the hartal on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Management department has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for immediate measures including effective surveillance to check the increasing wild animal attacks in Wayanad.
The hartal called by Farms Relief Forum (FRM) , a local outfit against increasing wild animal attacks in Wayanad, failed to evoke any response in the district on Wednesday.
