Wayanad: The UDF has called for a hartal in Wayanad on Thursday in protest against increasing elephant attacks in the district. UDF Wayanad district chairman KK Ahmed Haji and convener PT Gopalakurup said the hartal is being conducted to protest the government's inaction in the face of daily wildlife attacks resulting in human casualties.

Over four people have lost their lives  in last few days due to elephant attacks in the state. 

Opposition leader VD Satheesan criticised the state government of not taking immediate action to curb the increasing wildlife attacks. "The people killed are not poachers or maoists or illegal trespassers into the forest, they are commoners. The government is only conducting meetings and not taking any actions against the issue", he said. 

Essential services and travel for examinations, weddings, and the Pallikkunnu festival are exempted from the hartal, UDF leaders said.