A dawn-to-dusk hartal called by all major political parties in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Saturday, to demand a lasting solution to the escalating threat from wild animals, took a violent turn in Pulpally, 30 km from the district headquarters of Kalpetta. The strike was called by the Congress-led United Democratic Front, the Left Democratic Front, and the Bharatiya Janata Party after a man was killed by a herd of wild elephants on Friday, the third such death in less than a month.
Protestors blocked roads, vandalised a vehicle belonging to the Forest department, attacked police, and also vented their ire against local Congress legislators I.C. Balakrishnan and T. Siddique. Police had to use force to disperse the protestors, who staged a demonstration with the body of Paul of Vellachalil, an employee of the Kuruva Dweep eco-tourism centre of the Forest department, who was killed on Friday. Prohibitory orders have been issued in Pulpally panchayat for two days.
