Pandalur, Nilgiris: A 58-year-old farmer named Joy, son of Antony and a former well-known local footballer, tragically lost his life after being attacked by a wild elephant around 8 pm on Sunday. Joy, a resident of Chandakunnu, Pithirkkad in Nelliyalam, was walking through his coffee plantation when the animal struck.
The attack occurred near the Forest Department’s section office. Officials revealed that despite multiple attempts by forest personnel to drive the elephant back into the forest, the animal remained in the area for several days, causing ongoing concern.
The human settlement near the coffee farm is densely populated, and locals have been protesting the perceived inaction of the forest department in controlling the elephant’s movements.
Joy’s body has been taken to the mortuary at the Government Taluk Hospital in Pandalur. Police confirmed that the body will be handed over to family members after a postmortem scheduled for noon.