Kerala: Tribal Woman Killed by Tiger
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Synopsis
In a tragic incident in Wayanad, Kerala, a tribal woman named Radha was killed by a tiger while collecting coffee beans. The ongoing man-animal conflict in the region has raised concerns, particularly after a recent debate in the Kerala Assembly on this pressing issue.
Key Takeaways
- Radha, a tribal woman, was killed by a tiger.
- The incident occurred in Wayanad, Kerala.
- State Minister O.R. Kelu visited the site.
- Man-animal conflicts have risen sharply in recent years.
- V. D. Satheesan plans a protest rally for farmers’ rights.
Wayanad, Jan 24 (NationPress) In the ongoing struggle between humans and wildlife in Kerala, a tribal woman was tragically killed by a tiger while she was gathering coffee beans near Mananthavady in the Wayanad district.
The victim has been named as Radha, wife of a temporary Forest Watcher.
O.R. Kelu, the State Minister for SC/ST Affairs and a native of Wayanad, has traveled to the scene of the incident.
Shamsad Marikar, the President of the Wayanad District Panchayat, confirmed that he has been in touch with individuals who have reached the location.
According to Marikar, "The individuals at the site reported seeing Radha's body, which appeared to have been dragged for some distance by the tiger."
On Friday morning, Radha's husband had dropped her off on the main road adjacent to a private coffee estate.
While she was en route to her workplace, the tiger launched the attack.
Local police and forest officials have also arrived at the scene, and the body will be transported to the state-run hospital in Mananthavady for a post-mortem examination.
Notably, the issue of man-animal conflict in Kerala, particularly in forest-adjacent areas, has escalated, and this incident occurred just a day after a heated discussion in the Kerala Assembly regarding this pressing matter.
V. D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition, criticized Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, for not adequately addressing this significant issue. He noted that reported man-animal conflict cases surged from 6,341 in 2019-20 to a staggering 9,838 cases in 2023-24.
On Saturday, Satheesan plans to commence a 10-day protest rally to advocate for the rights of hill district farmers and to address their grievances.
The rally will initiate from a hilly region in Kannur and conclude in the state capital district.
