Tension gripped Valparai as hundreds of residents held a series of protests, including a road roko, on Saturday seeking a permanent solution to the constant man animal conflict in their neighbourhood.

The villagers took to the roads in the wake of a four-year-old boy being mauled by a leopard at Mudis Estate on Friday night.

The victim, Sherin, was returning home with his father Jayakumar after visiting his ailing mother at a hospital nearby when he fell prey to the leopard.

More than 200 persons squatted on the road near Stanmore junction in the morning prompting the police to divert traffic. The protests continued till evening.

Besides demanding the forest department to initiate steps to prevent straying of wild animals into residential localities, the protesters also sought adequate compensation to the kin of the deceased child Sherin.

The protestors also surrounded a vehicle in which sub collector of Pollachi Arun Sundar Dayalan arrived to hold talks.

Tashildar Gunalan, deputy superintendent of police (Valparai) P. Palanisamy and other officials held talks with the agitators and promised action.