Man killed by elephant; Political parties stage protest

In yet another incident in the district, a man was today trampled to death by an elephant at a village here, police said.
The 50-year-old man was on his way to a farm at Kappikaddu village from a resort when an elephant caught him with its trunk, flung him down and trampled him to death, police said.
Meanwhile, the members of 10 political parties, trade unions and NGOs who had given a call for closure of all shops in Gudalur, about 80 km from here, demanding that government must take steps to stop increasing attacks by wild animals in the area.

The shopkeepers had downed shutters and about 500 people assembled for a protest when news filtered in about the man's death. The protestors raised slogans against the forest department and government.
Agitators led by DMK MLA, Dravidamani and CPI Secretary Vasu attempted to stage picketing outside government hospital in Gudalur, where the man's body has been kept, but were taken into custody, police said.
The demonstrators demanded that Government put an end to human-animal conflict, protect human lives, pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased, government jobs to next of kin and also safeguard agriculture land and crops by digging a trench on the corridor.