Man killed in tiger attack at Kalikavu

Rubber tapper mauled to death by tiger in Malappuram, sparking anger and demands for action from residents and politicians.

A 44-year-old rubber tapper, Gafoof Ali, was mauled to death by a tiger while working at a plantation at Adakkakundu, near Kalikavu, in the eastern part of Malappuram district on Thursday morning.

Gafoor Ali from Kallamoola in Chokad panchayat was about to start tapping work at a rubber plantation that he leased from one Nasar when the tiger attacked him from behind. His co-worker Samad who was with him fled for safety as the tiger pounced on Gafoor and dragged him away.

Nasar raised an alarm, and a joint search by the forest and police officers found Gafoor’s body in a bushy area 200 metres behind the rubber plantation. Gafoor had lethal wounds on his back.

Local residents, angered by the tiger attack, refused to let Gafoor’s body be removed from the spot. They accused the forest staff of ignoring their repeated complaints in the past several months about the threat of wild animals, including tiger, leopard and elephant. “The forest staff did not even install a trap or cage to capture the wild cat,” said one furious local resident.

The Adakkakundu area in Kalikavu panchayat, which is contiguous to the buffer zone of the Silent Valley National Park, has the presence of tigers and leopards. Local residents said several of their domestic animals, including goats, cows and dogs, were killed by leopards in the past.

“Almost everyone here has been living in fear. Gafoor has become a victim. We don’t want to lose another human life,” said Samad. A.P. Anil Kumar, MLA of Wandoor, held talks with the agitating residents and assured them immediate action.

Divisional Forest Officer G. Dhanik Lal assuaged the people’s anger by promising them that efforts would be made to capture the tiger. He said financial aid will be handed over to Gafoor’s family on Friday.