Tribal woman killed in elephant attack near Nilambur in Kerala

Tribal woman killed in elephant attack sparks protests in Kerala, raising questions about increasing incidents of such attacks.

A tribal woman from Uchakkulam hamlet at Moothedam, near Nilambur, in Malappuram district of Kerala was killed in an elephant attack on Wednesday (January 15, 2024). The deceased has been identified as Sarojini, 52. She had gone to the forest along with four others to rear their cattle when the attack took place.

When the elephant charged at the group, the others ran to safety. But Sarojini fell as she tried to escape, and was trampled to death by the elephant.

This was the second tribal death in elephant attack in the last two weeks. Mani, a youth from Mancheeri hamlet in the Karimpuzha National Park near Karulai, was killed in an elephant attack on January 4 night when he was returning after dropping his children at a tribal school.

Mani’s death triggered a protest under Nilambur’s MLA P.V. Anvar’s leadership, leading to an attack on the Forest divisional office at Nilambur and subsequent arrest of Mr. Anvar from his house on the night of January 5.

Sarojini’s death too sparked a protest by Congress workers at Moothedam. District Congress president V.S. Joy and Congress State general secretary Aryadan Shoukath led the protest. Holding the Forest department and its officials responsible for the increasing incidence of elephant attacks, the protesters refused to allow the woman’s body to be shifted to hospital for post-mortem examination procedures.

“These tribespeople have been living in the forest fringes for ages. They have been making a life by collecting small forest produce and rearing cattle. Why such a spurt in elephant attacks in recent times?” the protesters asked.

Mr. Anvar said that the government’s “silence and negligence were despicable.”