KANNUR: Locals have intensified their protest with the bodies of the tribal couple killed in the wild elephant attack at Aralam Farm. Residents blocked the ambulance carrying the bodies and those who arrived at the scene, including CPM leader MV Jayarajan. They are of the view that no one will be allowed inside.

The police forcibly removed the protestors who had blocked the road. Women and children, among others, are protesting by sitting on the road. Protestors said that they are protesting against the forest department and officials. The bodies of the slain couple are yet to be brought home. The people are demanding that the minister and the collector arrive at the scene.

KPCC president K Sudhakaran was also blocked by the protesters on the road. The protesters said that they will not back down until a solution is found to the wildlife attack. Youth Congress showed black flags to Forest Minister AK Saseendran, who arrived for an all-party meeting in Aralam. The tribal couple from Block 13 of Aralam Farm was killed in an elephant attack yesterday evening. The couple were collecting cashew nuts when the elephant attacked them.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has called another high-level meeting to review the measures being taken to prevent wildlife attacks. The meeting will be held at the Chief Minister's Conference Hall in the Secretariat at 3.30 pm on Thursday. Ministers of Forest, Finance, Revenue, Local Self-Government, Electricity, Health and Irrigation, the Chief Secretary and the department secretaries will participate.

Ten missions were prepared to deal with wildlife attacks in a high-level meeting held at the Forest Department headquarters on the 12th. Measures including ensuring water and food for wildlife within the forest itself were decided. Top officials of the Forest and Wildlife Department, the State Police Chief and the Member Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority will also participate in the meeting. The meeting will review the steps taken so far to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.