Residents of Kothamangalam in Idukki expressed their discontent through a protest involving the body of a 70-year-old woman named Indira Ramakrishnan, who tragically lost her life in an elephant attack in the Kanjiraveli area of Idukki on Monday. This incident marked the fifth occurrence of human-animal conflict resulting in fatalities in Kerala this year, raising concerns among the local populace.
Indira Ramakrishnan, attacked by an elephant while in a rubber plantation near the forest, succumbed to her injuries despite immediate efforts to transport her to a nearby hospital. Her tragic demise prompted residents of Kothamangalam to stage a protest on Monday, highlighting the escalating issue of human-animal conflicts in the region.
The protesters, led by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan and Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose, not only resisted the authorities' request for the woman's body to undergo postmortem examination but also demanded a comprehensive resolution to the ongoing human-animal conflict.
The incident unfolded as the victim, while tending to her husband engaged in work, ventured into the rubber plantation. The protesters, dissatisfied with the prevailing situation, chanted slogans such as 'Police go back,' leading to confrontations with law enforcement.
Videos circulated depicted Ernakulam DCC president Mohammad Shias engaging in a physical altercation with a senior police officer during the protest. Meanwhile, Dean Kuriakose criticized the police for what he perceived as disrespect towards the deceased by bringing her body onto the road.
The protesters asserted that their demonstration would persist until government ministers arrived at the scene. However, law enforcement ultimately intervened, forcibly removing the body from the protesters.
