Standoff between farmers, Forest department worsens

Alleged denial of treatment to farmer who met with accident caused by wild boar

The standoff between the Forest department and a section of settler farmers at Thamarassery over the alleged failure of the authorities in controlling wild animal menace worsened with the latest row over sanctioning of compensation for Rasheed Alakkunnathu, a 45-year-old driver-turned-farmer, who was killed in an accident reportedly caused by wild boars.

Farmers organisations alleged that the department was responsible for the denial of treatment aid to the man while he was undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

It was on October 6 that Rasheed along with his family members had met with the accident. Though the others escaped with minor injuries, Rasheed, who drove the autorickshaw, sustained grave injuries. He had been under treatment for nearly two months.