In a tragic incident, a farmer was killed in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Thursday after a tiger that intruded into a human habitat at Puthussery allegedly attacked him.

Thomas (50) of Pallipurath house at Puthussery near Mananthavady was attacked by the tiger near his house on Thursday morning. He suffered serious injuries to his wrists and legs and a fractured thigh bone. Thomas was seriously hurt and was sent right away to a private hospital in Kalpetta, but he had a heart attack on the way and later passed away.

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Kerala government announced Rs.5 lakh relief to the relatives of  the deceased farmer.

Agitated over the presence of a tiger in the village which is located far away from the forest, the local residents launched a protest and blocked the forest officers demanding immediate steps to capture the tiger.

The protesting farmers have declared that they will not conduct the funeral of Thomas until the government issues an order to shoot the tiger which is posing a threat to human life.

Forest minister AK Saseendran has ordered the caging of the big cat.“It is really sad we lost another life. We will put up a cage or tranquillise and net the animal immediately,” he said

The search for the animal was underway, officials claimed. However, locals alleged that the death  of the farmer could have been averted, if the forest officials acted promptly. The locals said they had alerted the forest officials about footprints of the big cat two days ago but no action was taken.