Amidst the demand from farmers for the translocation of wild elephants which are entering villages in Thadagam valley, four elephants created panic at Varapalayam in the early hours of Thursday.
A three-member herd and a lone elephant entered Varapalayam and moved around the settlement causing damage to property.
According to sources, Chinna Thambi, one of the two tuskers the farmers earlier wanted translocated from the valley, was part of the three-member herd.
“The elephants damaged the house of Mohana, a retired teacher residing at Varapalayam, around 3 a.m. They also damaged banana trees around the house,” a farmer from Varapalayam said. The movement of wild elephants were reported near Ponnuthu Amman Temple where the Forest Department stationed its wild elephants earlier this month.
The elephants also raided crops belonging to several farmers in the village and damaged an irrigation borewell.
Representatives of the Tamil Nadu Vivasaigal Sangam (non-political) said that they were gearing up for a mass protest at the office of the Chief Wildlife Warden in Chennai on December 17. They plan to demand the translocation of wild elephants which frequently enter their villages.
Protest by farmers
“As on Thursday, around 500 farmers have informed us that they will be taking part in the protest. More farmers will join for the protest in the coming days,” said a representative of the association.