Protest in Kerala's Idukki demanding protection of residents, properties from wild elephants

Idukki (Kerala) [India], June 8 : Devikulam MLA S Rajendran from CPM along with supporters staged a protest by blocking the Munnar-Udumalpet interstate highway here on Monday, demanding that action to be taken to prevent wild elephants entering into human settlements and destroying properties.
The protest started at 9.30 am and demand was made that senior forest officials should give them assurance of putting an end to the problem.
A police team led by Munnar Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) Ramesh Kumar was camping in the area.
Wild elephants from the nearby forest are frequently trespassing into Munnar and last night two elephants destroyed a vegetable shop in the town.
If it was a lone elephant that the locals nicknamed as Padayappa that used to enter the human settlement, now along with him a baby elephant is also coming to the town at night.
The locals have named the second elephant Ganeshan. Though there were instances of them destroying crops and eating from vegetable shops, till now the duo has not attacked humans.