Mananthavady: Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday morning visited the family members of the three men who were killed in wild animal attacks in Wayanad. He had stopped the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' abruptly to visit those affected by the human-animal conflict.
At first, he reached the house of Ajeesh, a farmer who was trampled to death by the wild elephant Belur Makhna here at Chaligada. The Wayanad MP's visit comes a day after the district witnessed a violent protest against the forest department and the Kerala government over the lapses in protecting people from wild animal attacks.
Talking to the media, Ajeesh's neighbours said that Gandhi was unaware of the seriousness of the issue. They alleged that the local leaders who took the MP to meet the family members should have explained the issues to him.
A person even said the MP was not ready to listen to the people who were waiting to raise their concerns. The man blocked Gandhi's vehicle and briefed him about the pathetic situation of the people who are affected by wild animal attacks. He pointed out the Kerala forest department's lapses in capturing the rogue elephant Belur Makhna that killed Ajeesh on February 10.
From Ajeesh's house, Gandhi headed to Pulpally to meet the family of Paul, a tourist guide who succumbed to the injuries he suffered when he was attacked by a herd of wild elephants at Kuruva island. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal accompanied the MP. After visiting Paul's family at Pulpally's Pakkom, he reached Moodakolly to meet the family of Prajeesh who was mauled to death by a tiger.
Talking to the media, Paul's wife Shaly demanded compensation from the government. Paul's daughter said that adequate facilities should be established in the Government Medical College at Manathavady to save lives in Wayanad.
According to reports, Rahul will leave for Uttar Pradesh by noon after attending a review meeting at the Government Guest House in Kalpetta.
