Priyanka Gandhi Meets Family of Animal Attack Victim Radha in Wayanad

Thiruvananthapuram: Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday said the wild animal attacks in the district are a complex problem with no ready-made solutions and the state government, Centre and people’s representatives need to come on board to mitigate the sufferings of the local people.

Priyanka who arrived at Kannur International Airport on Tuesday morning, travelled to Wayanad by road. She visited the house of tiger attack victim Radha in Pancharakolli and spoke to the family members.

Her visit came at a time when there is widespread resentment among the local people against the failure of the forest department to protect them from animal attacks. Earlier, the ruling LDF workers showed black flags to Priyanka Gandhi while her motorcade was on its way to Radha’s house.

The workers were protesting against the MP for reaching late in the constituency despite fatal animal attacks in the area.

Radha, 45, died on January 24 after being attacked by a man-eater tigress while she was out for work in a nearby estate.m A massive search operation was carried out to trace the man-eater with the government giving shoot at sight order to the forest officials.

The tigress was found dead near in Pilakavu estate. The seven-year-old female tiger had deep injuries on its neck that are suspected to have been sustained in the forest. Forest officials believe a fight with another tiger might have caused the injuries.

Meanwhile, after meeting Radha’s family Priyanka told media persons that from the interaction she could gauge that they want more locals as forest watchmen. They say the local community has a much better understanding of forest and animals and that they would help in keeping a close watch.

“In that particular estate where the incident occurred, there were four watchmen and now there are just two. Adequate fencing is needed to prevent the wild animals from entering workplaces and pathways that are used by the locals daily. I have put these suggestions before the district administration on their behalf,” she said.

Priyanka said certain CSR funds could be raised for the purpose. “I will try to raise the funds. But the funds coming from the Centre and state are inadequate and they need to provide more money to mitigate the issue. I will raise the issue in Parliament and at the level of state and central governments respectively,” she added.

The Congress leader said the safety of people is paramount and she would do everything possible to ensure that.

Priyanka later met the family members of N M Vijayan, a former DCC treasurer who died by suicide. He had taken his life due to debts incurred after getting job seekers' money to grant posts in a Congress-controlled Cooperative bank. His son too had died by suicide. Senior Congress leaders of the district including IC Balakrishnan MLA are facing a probe in the case.