Nilgiris tiger attacks: Two-day strike called in Gudalur as hunt intensifies

Following the deaths of two men in separate tiger attacks in Lauriston, O-Valley Town Panchayat, political parties and traders have called a two-day general strike in the Gudalur Assembly constituency on August 27 and 28. They are demanding urgent steps from the Forest Department to prevent further wild animal attacks.

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Representatives of the BJP, Congress, VCK, CPI, CPM, NTK, DMDK and SDPI attended a meeting at the DMK’s Gudalur MLA office on Saturday and sought the support of traders, auto-rickshaw and taxi operators for the strike.

Traders back strike against attacks

The parties also demanded the release of VCK and DYFI functionaries arrested during an August 21 protest following the death of K Ravikumar in a tiger attack. Traders have since backed the shutdown by closing grocery shops, while auto and call taxi operators will stay off the roads.

Resorts and cottages in Masinagudi, a major tourist destination in the Nilgiris, are also likely to remain closed. The Gudalur Viyabarikal Sangam said estate workers would join the strike and not send their children to school on either day.

“Our members are supporting the strike as people are spending sleepless nights due to wild animal attacks. We want to show our unity and urge the Forest Department to prevent such deaths,” a representative said.

The two victims, Balakrishnan and Ravichandran, were mauled to death in separate attacks, sparking fear and anger among residents. The shutdown will continue on Friday as traders, political parties and local groups intensify pressure on authorities.

Forest teams step up hunt

More than 100 forest personnel, led by Gudalur DFO Devaraj, have been deployed to capture the tiger following instructions from Tamil Nadu Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra. The operation involves three thermal-imaging drones, 130 camera traps and 12 cages.

Officials have reviewed footage from all 130 cameras but found no signs of the tiger. Rain, mist and poor visibility have hampered the search. Additional personnel from Coimbatore and other divisions have joined the operation, with more than 10 senior officials assisting the teams. Round-the-clock patrols and thermal drones are being used to scan plantations and forest fringes.

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Public movement has been restricted in suspected tiger zones, with residents of Deivamalai, Mettur, Kurinji Nagar, Mullai Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Valappu advised to remain alert and avoid going out alone.

Meanwhile, an all-party meeting in Kotagiri, attended by traders and social organisations, discussed the growing human-wildlife conflict. Chaired by CPI(M) taluk secretary Manikandan, the meeting demanded that compensation for deaths caused by wild animals be raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh and that one member of each victim’s family be given a government job.