Kerala woman on way to work dies in tiger attack, angry locals stop officials from moving her body

45-year-old Radha from Wayanad was the latest victim of rising incidents of human-animal conflict in the district

2 min readThiruvananthapuramJan 24, 2025 05:36 PM IST

Earlier this week, Forest officials in Wayanad caged a tiger that had forayed into human settlements in search of prey. (Representative/ Express file photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

A tribal woman from Kerala was killed in a tiger attack while she was going to work at a coffee plantation in Wayanad on Friday, prompting angry protests from local residents.

Radha, 45, from Pancharakkolly near Mananthavady, was found dead in the forests close to her settlement. Her husband, Achappan, works as a forest watcher.

According to police, the state anti-Maoist force, Thunderbolt, found the woman’s body during routine surveillance. She was reportedly attacked while she was on her way to the coffee plantation via a forest tract. Her body was found to have been dragged along the forest for a few metres.

Anger mounted over the incident, with Pancharakkolly residents preventing revenue officials and police from moving the body. The protesters also blocked the way of SC/ST Welfare Minister and local legislator O R Kelu, who had rushed to the area to pacify residents.

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The body was finally moved after the officials said the government would provide compensation to the family of the victim.

Wayanad has been reporting recurring incidents of human casualties from attacks from wild animals, mainly elephants. In December 2023, a youth was mauled to death by a tiger near district headquarters, Kalpetta. Then victim, Prajeesh, was attacked while he went to collect fodder.

Earlier this week, Forest officials in Wayanad caged a tiger that had forayed into human settlements in search of prey. With protests mounting over the sighting of the tiger, Forest Minister A K Saseendran said necessary direction was given to the chief wildlife warden to shoot the tiger if it is identified as a man-eater.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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