Operation Arikomban: 13 Panchayats Call For 12-Hr Hartal As Kerala HC Prolongs Mission To Capture Elephant

The court said that it is not in favour of the move to capture the elephant and a permanent solution would only be to relocate the residents of Colony 301 to avoid the man-animal conflict. 

The members of 13 panchayats in Idukki districts staging a protest on Wednesday

Source : ANI

The people of 13 panchayats in Idukki district staged a protest against the High Court verdict proposing to relocate the residents from their hamlets to permanently avoid elephant attacks. The Kerala High Court on Wednesday said that a committee would be constituted to decide on capturing the elephant since the HC was opposed to the idea of capturing and keeping them at elephant camps. 

According to ANI, “Kerala | 13 panchayats in Idukki districts staged a protest yesterday to express their displeasure on the High Court verdict on 'operation Arikomban' to capture the tusker Arikomban, a wild tusker that attacked locals and damaged properties in the nearby areas.”

Kerala | 13 panchayats in Idukki districts staged a protest yesterday to express their displeasure on the High Court verdict on 'operation Arikomban' to capture the tusker Arikomban, a wild tusker that attacked locals and damaged properties in the nearby areas. pic.twitter.com/9TnR5g5TnM

— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2023

The residents of Chinnakkanal and Santhanpara panchayats held the protest for an hour demanding the officials capture the jumbo. They called for a 12-hour panchayat-level hartal in Idukki district at Marayoor, Kanthallor, Munnar, Rajakkad, Rajakumari, Chinnakkanal, Udumbanchola and Santhanpara panchayats. 

#WATCH | Kerala: Elephants are seen running in Idukki's Chinnakanal area.

13 panchayats have called a 12-hour-long 'hartal' in Idukki districts to express their displeasure on HC verdict on 'operation Arikomban' to capture a wild tusker that attacked locals in the nearby areas pic.twitter.com/eXgumdnBwO

— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2023

On Wednesday, the Kerala High Court in its order constituted an expert committee to give its opinion on capturing and releasing Arikomban in a camp. However, the court said that it is not in favour of the move to capture the elephant and a permanent solution would be to relocate the residents of Colony 301 to avoid the man-animal conflict. 

The Court, as per ANI said, "How the tribals were relocated to the elephant habitat. The reason for the problem is that the people are being housed in the jungle. An expert committee can be appointed in the matter. Give them the documents."

The wild tusker, Arikomban, has damaged several houses and ration shops in Chinnakanal and Munnar areas in the past few years.