Wayand forest staff seek protection from attacks by locals, blame Mohanlal’s ‘Pulimurugan’

The forest officials have alleged that the movie portrayed forest staff in bad light and glorified the hero who kills man-eating animals.
Wayand forest staff seek protection from attacks by locals, blame Mohanlal’s ‘Pulimurugan’
Wayand forest staff seek protection from attacks by locals, blame Mohanlal’s ‘Pulimurugan’
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A section of Wayand forest officials has asked for protection from attacks by a few locals in the district, seemingly inspired by the recent Mohanlal blockbuster Pulimurugan.  

The forest officials have alleged that the movie portrayed forest staff in bad light and glorified the hero who kills man-eating animals.

As per The Times of India report by Rajeev KR, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) warden has given a petition to the chief wildlife warden seeking protection for forest staff, as they face violent attacks and hostility from a section of locals in the district.

The petition from warden P Dhanesh Kumar says that certain locals have planned to attack forest officials from certain places and the officials will not take up duty until security is assured.

There were many recent incidents in Wayanad, where locals turned against forest officials as they take action against poaching and wildlife crimes. The recent arrest of a resort owner who killed a wild elephant, has also created a sense of unease.

“The forest department received secret information that an all-party meeting held recently decided to manhandle forest staff in the areas of Panayambam, Karippur, Pallivayal and Valluvadi. Staffers have informed that they will take up duties only if safety can be assured. We have credible information about miscreants planning to attack forest staff at eco-tourism spots by posing as tourists,“ said the petition to top officials, ToI reports.

Kerala Forest Protective Staff Association state vice president M Manoharan told ToI that the movie Pulimurugan has invoked anti-conservation sentiments and worsened the hostility of locals towards the forest staff.

“Wayanad has a history of turning into a tinderbox with people turning against the forest department merely on the basis of rumours or scare-mongering. Many groups with vested interests including political and religious groups and real estate lobby had deployed such tactics during the days of protests against Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports. We think that the film has done a disservice to conservation and has only helped deepen the underlying animosities which will make our work in areas like Wayanad more difficult,“ he said.

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