Kozhikode: Farmers in Mukkam Municipality have launched an indefinite relay hunger strike demanding urgent action against the rising threat of wild boars. The protesters are seeking permission to hunt the animals, which they say endanger both human lives and crops and are calling for an increase in the number of M-Panel shooters deployed in the region.

The strike, organised by Karshaka Koottayma, a farmers’ collective formed in response to repeated attacks, began on Friday morning. Protesters fasted in their fields before staging a sit-in in front of the Mukkam Municipality office from 3 pm onwards. From Saturday, the demonstration is being held daily from 10 am. Farmers also displayed withered crop remnants that wild boars destroyed.

Bhaskaran Paittooli, the eldest among the protesters, inaugurated the strike. “The farmers have been pushed into a helpless situation as the number of wild boars has multiplied within a short period. Crops are being destroyed daily, and people are being attacked even in broad daylight. The reason for this increase is that the animals are not being shot on sight, as there are not enough M-Panel shooters. Hunting during the day is the only solution to this emergency. The municipal authority can facilitate it with the district collector’s permission," says Vinod Manassery, a representative of the committee.

"At present, there are four shooters under the municipality. But they are unable to perform their duties properly as they are not paid on time and lack adequate security assurances," he added.

Meanwhile, a woman farmer, returning home after the protest, was attacked by a wild boar the same evening. Safiya Edoli Pali of Pulparamb, West Chennamangaloor, sustained injuries to her right hand and leg while harvesting brinjal near her paddy field around 6 pm. She is receiving treatment for her injuries.