Woman killed by tiger in Kerala's Wayanad; order issued to capture or kill it
Wayanad (Kerala), Jan 25 (PTI): A 47-year-old woman was killed in a tiger attack at Priyadarshini Estate at Mananthavady village in this district on Friday morning, sparking intense protests by locals in the area.
The victim, Radha, who belonged to a scheduled caste, was mauled by the tiger while she was out plucking coffee at the estate in the morning.
Later in the day, the Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G Krishnan issued an order to "put maximum effort" to cage or tranquilise the feline in accordance with the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, failing which to shoot it down.
"If the problematic tiger cannot be captured or tranquilised and remains dangerous to human life by turning into a man-eater, then the said tiger shall be hunted in strict adherence to the SOPs of the NTCA," the CWC said in his order.
He issued the order, saying that "there is reasonable grounds to believe that the animal in question has become dangerous to human life".
In view of the tiger being at large, the Mananthavady Sub Divisional Magistrate, Misal Sagar Bharat, issued prohibitory orders under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) preventing all types of public gatherings in four divisions of Mananthavady municipality.
"The tiger is still roaming and has not been caught. Hence, it is essential to restrict the gathering of public in the said locality till the tiger is captured and shifted to a safe place for ensuring safety of the public," the order said.
It also advised the public to exercise caution during the night as well.
Additionally, camera traps and cages have been set up and Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed in the area to capture or kill the tiger.
Meanwhile, the Congress has called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Mananthavady municipality on Saturday in protest against the government's alleged failure to prevent recurring wildlife attacks in the area and ensure public safety.
The attack on the woman occurred a day after Kerala Forest Minister A K Saseendran claimed in the assembly that human-animal conflicts were declining in the state and the government was taking effective action.
Following the attack, the locals protested by not allowing the woman's body to be taken for post-mortem till the authorities ensured that the people of the area were protected and the tiger was killed or captured.
The locals staged a protest in front of O R Kelu, the Minister for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, when he visited the area.
Later, the minister told reporters here that an order to kill or capture the tiger will be issued as demanded by the people of the area.
Besides that, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) were being deployed in the area to ensure the safety of the people who go to work early in the morning.
Kelu also said that a fencing project was sanctioned for the area and he had set aside funds for it, but it could not be implemented till now as several rounds of the tendering process were not successful in finding someone to carry out the work.
He said steps would be taken to implement the project as quickly as possible.
Additionally, the issue of providing a job to the victim's family will be placed before the cabinet soon and a compensation of Rs 11 lakh will also be provided to them, he said. Kelu said that of the Rs 11 lakh, Rs 5 lakh will be given on Friday.
After the assurances given by the minister, the protestors allowed the body to be taken away for post-mortem.
Meanwhile, AICC general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condoled the death of the woman and said there was an immediate need to find a sustainable solution to the problem of wild animal attacks.
"I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Radha, who was killed by a tiger while harvesting coffee in Pancharakolly, Mananthavady. My heartfelt condolences to her family. There is an immediate need for sustainable solutions to address this pressing issue," she said in a post on the social media platform 'X'.
I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Smt. Radha, who was killed by a tiger while harvesting coffee in Pancharakolly, Mananthavady. My heartfelt condolences to her family.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) January 24, 2025
There is an immediate need for sustainable solutions to address this pressing issue.
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No need for guv: DMK leader Kanimozhi
Chennai (PTI): Senior DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Friday reiterated her party’s opposition to the office of the governor amid uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu after a fractured election mandate.
Speaking to PTI Videos, Kanimozhi emphasised that the DMK’s demand for the abolition of the governor’s post remained unchanged, especially as questions arise over constitutional propriety during the current political transition.
"Our position that we do not need a governor at all is something the DMK has never changed at any point in time," she said.
When asked about the governor’s actions following the election results—particularly the delay in inviting the leading party to form the government—Kanimozhi pointed to what she described as the "inherent friction" between the office of the governor and the political interests of the state.
She said the current situation "raises a lot of questions" and requires introspection regarding constitutional procedures.
Kanimozhi described the election results as lacking a "clear mandate", which she identified as the primary reason for the prevailing political uncertainty in the state.
"What the people decide is supreme," she said, adding that while the mandate was not decisive, it must be respected.
The Thoothukudi MP attributed the ongoing delays and "many confusions" to the absence of a decisive majority for any single party.
She firmly dismissed rumours about the DMK potentially supporting the AIADMK from outside to help stabilise the government.
She described such reports as mere "speculation" and "rumours".
"We can’t be responding to every rumour," she said, declining to comment on the AIADMK’s claims regarding its numbers to form the government.
The political situation in Tamil Nadu remains fluid as stakeholders await the governor’s next constitutional step in an Assembly where no party has secured a clear majority.
The DMK and AIADMK—both of which suffered significant losses to the TVK—are reportedly exploring tactical manoeuvres to navigate the hung Assembly.
The TVK, with 108 seats and the support of Congress’s five MLAs, is still short of the majority mark. The DMK and AIADMK secured 59 and 47 seats, respectively.
