Gudalur (TN) Sep 11 (PTI) Following two fatal tiger attacks that sparked outrage in the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu Forest Minister Ranjith Kumar visited on Friday the grieving families in Gudalur to offer his condolences.
During the visit, the minister assured that a government job in the forest department would be provided to one family member of each of the deceased victims.
The intervention comes in the wake of escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region. According to sources, a 54-year-old farmer named R Ravichandran was killed in a suspected tiger attack in the Lauresten (O’Valley) area of Gudalur on August 21. This marked the second such fatality in the locality within two weeks, following the death of another resident, Balakrishnan, who was killed by a tiger on August 8.
These incidents triggered severe panic and widespread protests among villagers, who staged demonstrations and demanded the immediate capture of the big cat. In response to the unrest, the Chief Wildlife Warden has ordered the capture of the tiger, and multiple cages and camera traps have been placed in the vicinity.
Despite these measures, residents, many of whom are plantation workers and farmers, remain terrified to leave their homes or attend to their fields.
Speaking to PTI Videos, Ajith Kumar, son of the deceased victim Ravichandran, said: “The situation is such that people are afraid to even step out of their houses. Today, the forest minister visited us and assured us that a job will be provided in the forest department. We demand that this tiger be captured immediately so that not another life is lost.” PTI JR JR SA
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