Protesters gherao forest official in Masinagudi

Hundreds of protesters, led by Gudalur MLA, Pon Jeyaseelan, gheraoed the office of the Deputy Director of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), P Arunkumar, in Masinagudi on Wednesday, claiming that the official was not allowing certain projects, and activities on the grounds that they were detrimental to the welfare of wildlife.

The protesters remained at the spot till late evening. The Nilgiris district police intervened and persuaded them to leave.

They demanded that private jeep safaris be allowed along critical wildlife areas within the Reserve till 9 p.m. and transporting of building materials be allowed without restrictions to areas within the notified elephant corridor in MTR.

Eom/ RPK