IDUKKI: Reports said the popular wild elephant Padayappa familiar to both tourists and local residents reaching Munnar town, unleashed violence yesterday. The elephant was seen near Munnar Eco Point. The elephant, which created a traffic jam on the Munnar-Mattupetti road for a long time, vandalised all the three shops at Eco Point.

A few days ago, the elephant seen in Munnar's Nettimedu area attacked a tractor carrying tea leaves. Tractor owner Selvakumar seeing the elephant ran away. Padayappa examined the back of the tractor and then retreated after some time.

Padayappa, who reached the same place in last November destroyed the shops and scared the tourists who came here. He then ate all the tender coconuts kept for sale. The elephant created trouble as people gathered to see him and take videos. The elephant had also destroyed some bikes that day. The elephant later swam across the Mattupetti reservoir and returned to the forest.