12-hour hartal, traffic blockades in Idukki over rice-raiding tusker Arikomban

Protests erupted in Kerala’s Idukki district demanding the capture of the marauding rice-raider tusker Arikomban that has reigned terror in the region.

The 12-hour hartal called by 10 panchayats came a day after the Kerala High Court asked the state Forest Department not to capture the wild tusker, but to radio collar and track the elephant.

The court has also set up a 5-member expert committee to suggest ways to tackle the issue.

Residents had been demanding the capture of the elephant that had been raiding ration shops and other places for rice.

The Forest Department had also prepared for a massive Operation to capture the pachyderm.