Three killed in bison attacks in Kottayam and Kollam, clash between locals and forest guards

KOLLAM/KOTTAYAM: Three people were killed in bison attacks in two separate incidents in the state. Two people died in Kottayam and one in Kollam.

In Kollam, an expat was killed in an attack by a bison. He has been identified as Samuel Varghese (64) of Ayoor Peringalloor Kodinjal Kunnuvila Veettil. He was in Dubai and came home for vacation the other day. The bison attacked him from behind when he was standing in the rubber plantation adjacent to his house.

He was rushed to a private hospital, but his life could not be saved. It is not clear how the bison came to the inhabited area. The locals chased bison and it was later found dead.

In Kottayam, two died after attacked by a bison at Kanamala in Erumeli. The incident happened at Kanamala Attivala at 8 am Friday morning. The dead are Purathel Chackochan (70) and Plavanakuzhy Thomas (60). Chackochan died first and Thomas, who was admitted in the hospital with serious injuries succumbed to it later.

The locals staged protests against the forest guards over the incident. The body of Chakochan is kept at Kanjirapilly Taluk Hospital. Chakochan, who was standing outside his house in Kanamala was attacked by the bison without any provocation. His friend Thomas, who was with him, was also attacked.

A clash broke out between the locals and forest guards. The panchayat president and others reached the spot and are trying to solve the problem. The locals said the forest guards had not taken any action despite the constant disturbance of wild animals in this area.