Massive protests after wild elephant kills woman in Idukki

Wild elephant attack in Kompanpara sparks public protests demanding compensation and action from government officials.

Kompanpara, near Peruvanthanam in Idukki, where Sofia Ismail, 45, was trampled to death by a wild elephant around 6 p.m. on Monday, witnessed massive protests by the public late into the night. Sofia was attacked by the elephant when she had gone to bathe in a stream near her house. Irate people opposed the shifting of her body for post-mortem examination and demanded the Collector’s presence at the site.

District Collector V. Vigneshwari reached the spot around 1 a.m. on Tuesday and held talks with the protesters. The body was shifted to MMT Hospital, Mundakayam, after 2.30 a.m.

Ms. Vigneshwari said the people’s demands included shifting of three families from the area which was under constant threat of wild elephant attacks. They wanted the government to provide a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the family. “Sofia came under attack at a plot owned by TR and T Estate, which was a rubber plantation one. It is now covered with overgrown bushes, making it appealing for wild elephants. The district administration will take steps to clear the area,” said Ms. Vigneshwari.

Kottayam Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) N. Rajesh said the Forest department had already handed over ₹5 lakh to the family on Tuesday. “The remaining ₹5 lakh will be provided after submitting a legal certificate,” said the official. “The Forest department deputed additional watchers in the area to monitor the movements of wild elephants in the Kompanpara-Mathampa area. The construction of 14-kilometre-long solar fencing, covering Chennappara and Mathampa, will begin on Wednesday,” said Mr. Rajesh.

The funeral of Sofia was held at the Varikkani Muhiyudheen Juma Masjid on Tuesday. Her husband Ismail alleged that the Forest department had not taken any action to tackle the increasing wild elephant attacks in Kompanpara. “Recently, I met the Forest Minister at Kuttikkanam and put forth the demand. The officials failed to take timely action,” he alleged.