IDUKKI: Former minister M M Mani welcomed the Kerala High Court's directive to shift Arikomban to Parambikulam forest area after tranquilizing the tusker. Mani said the people's protest yielded results and made a strange response that 'Let the people of Parambikulam suffer again.

His words
Welcoming the court order. Decided to shift the troublesome elephant to Parambikulam. The decision is respected and welcomed. It is not right on court’s side to say that there should be no march and celebrations in the name of it. It is an encroachment on the fundamental rights of the people there. It cannot be accepted. Now let the people in and around Parambikulam suffer again. There is no other way except this. Can we kill all these animals? Shifting the troublesome elephant from here to there. That place is a dense forest. Good thing. The people's protest yielded results.

The court directive was after accepting the opinion of the five-member expert panel. The government should take all necessary safety precautions while taking the elephant in musth to the forest. The court also said that there is no need to celebrate by bursting firecrackers and taking selfies after catching Arikomban.

A permanent solution is needed. District wise RDO, DFO, SP, Panchayat Presidents etc. should form the task force. The court also directed that the activities of the vigilance committee should be intensified at the panchayat level.