A 47-year-old woman, identified as Radha, was mauled to death by a tiger on Friday morning at Priyadarshini Estate in Mananthavady village, Wayanad district, Kerala. The tragic incident occurred while she was plucking coffee, intensifying protests by locals demanding better safety measures.
Deceased Radha is aunt of Indian cricketer Minnu Mani.
This attack comes just a day after Kerala Forest Minister AK Saseendran claimed in the state assembly that human-animal conflicts were on the decline due to government efforts.
In response to the incident, Saseendran stated that orders had been issued to capture or kill the tiger responsible. OR Kelu, Minister for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, met with the agitated locals, who blocked the removal of Radha&rsquo;s body for postmortem.
Following negotiations, Kelu announced that the tiger would be hunted and assured ₹11 lakh in compensation for the victim's family, with ₹5 lakh to be disbursed immediately.
The incident highlights the growing concerns over man-animal conflicts in Kerala. Data presented in the state assembly revealed a rise in such conflicts from 6,341 cases in 2019-20 to 9,838 in 2023-24.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan criticized the government&rsquo;s handling of the issue, accusing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of neglect.
Satheesan is set to launch a 10-day protest rally starting Saturday from Kannur to the state capital, demanding stronger protection for farmers and residents in forest-bordering areas.
Minister Kelu assured the locals that measures like fencing and deployment of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) will be expedited to prevent further tragedies.

Over 9,838 man-animal conflicts have been reported in Kerala in 2023-24 —File Photo

Outrage in Mananthavady as locals demand swift action; govt issues capture/kill order

Tiger Attack Kills Woman, Protests Erupt in Kerala

Outrage in Mananthavady as locals demand swift action; govt issues capture/kill order

January 24, 2025 | 18:03 IST