Governor Khan consoles victims’ families, to meet church leaders in Wayanad

Wayanad: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan after his visit to the bereaved families of the wildlife attack at Mananthavady, here, urged the farming community on Monday that violence will not help in solving any of the problems.

Addressing media after discussion with Christian religious leaders and members of various farmers’ organizations, at Bishop House, here, Governor said that violence is negation of democracy.

He added that he had already contacted some state ministers regarding solutions for increasing human-animal conflict. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan also assured the people of Wayanad that he will do whatever he can by pressurizing the state and central governments to resolve the problem of recurring wildlife attacks as soon as possible.

He visited the houses of wildlife attack victims in the district amid raging protest against the state government over its failure in checking the human-animal conflict.

The Governor who reached the district on Saturday night began his visits at the house of Panachiyil Ajeesh at Chaligadha, Payyampalli. Khan consoled the family members and spent about 15 minutes with the family. He assured the wife and daughter that he would do whatever he could to ensure justice for them.

He also visited the house of Paul P V, a native of Vellachal who was killed in an elephant attack and the house of Prajeesh of Vakery who was killed and devoured by a tiger. The governor would also visit the house of the tribal boy who was partially paralyzed after being attacked by an elephant. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan would also meet Bishop Jose Porunnedam at Bishop House at Mananthavady where the representatives of the Church would discuss with him the challenges faced by the farming community in the district.

The Governor is staying at Forest Inspection Bungalow Mananthavady. He also met the representatives of farmers who apprised him on the intense wildlife attacks and poor plight of farmers across the district.

Mananthavadi Bishop demands withdrawal of cases against farmers
Bishop Jose Porunnedam of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mananthavadi slammed the government on Monday for slapping criminal cases against the farmers who had protested at Pulppalli on Sunday when the dead body of Vellachal Paul, the forest department employee killed in an elephant attack was brought to the town. Many police and forest department personnel were injured and public assets were damaged when the protest of farmers turned violent.

Addressing the media, Bishop urged the government to withdraw the criminal cases as it would affect a few farming families which are already in crisis. “I am not justifying those who had unleashed violence. But What was the reason for it?,” Bishop asked. Hinting at the inaction of the LDF government and district administration, Bishop Porunnedam said that such sensitive issues should have been resolved by the authorities as soon as possible.