KOTTAYAM: Forest Department has said that it will not shoot down and kill the bison that caused the death of two persons in Kanamala in Erumeli. Instruction has been given only to tranquilize the bison. Special permission from the Wildlife warden is required to shoot the animal. Bison and tiger are included in Schedule 1 under the Forest and Wildlife Act. There are some legal restrictions on shooting those animals that fall into this category, the forest department said.

However, locals said that the Collector issued an order to shoot down the bison and that they withdrew from their protest following this order. They said they will demonstrate by carrying the dead body of deceased Thomas if the authorities reversed their decision to shoot down the animal.

Earlier, the locals had besieged the road and protested, demanding permission to shoot and kill the animals that pose a threat to human life. Following this, a discussion was held with Collector Dr. PK Jayashree. The Collector then accepted the demands of the protesters and issued an order to shoot down the bison that came to Kanamala.

The Collector issued the order under CrPC 133. However, this section does not mention the word wild animal. It says that aggressive creatures can be shot dead. Hence there is ambiguity in the Collector's order.