Nilgiris, August 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Political parties, traders and transport operators have called for a two-day general strike in Tamil Nadu’s Gudalur Assembly constituency on August 27 and 28, demanding stronger measures by the Forest Department to prevent wild animal attacks.
The shutdown call follows the deaths of two men in suspected tiger attacks at Lauriston in O-Valley Town Panchayat, triggering fear and anger among residents.
Representatives of the BJP, Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), NTK, DMDK and SDPI announced the strike after a meeting at the DMK MLA’s office in Gudalur on Sunday. They sought the participation of traders, auto-rickshaw and taxi operators and plantation workers.
The meeting also passed a resolution seeking the release of VCK and DYFI functionaries arrested following an August 21 protest over the death of K. Ravikumar, the second suspected tiger attack victim.
The Gudalur Viyabarikal Sangam said grocery shops would remain closed during the strike, while auto-rickshaws and taxis were expected to stay off the roads. Resorts and cottages in Masinagudi, a major tourist destination in the Nilgiris, are also likely to suspend operations.
The traders’ association said estate workers would join the protest and had decided not to send their children to school on either day, describing the shutdown as an expression of public concern over continuing wildlife attacks.
DMK Gudalur town secretary S. Ilanchezhian alleged that the Forest Department failed to deploy traps and capture the tiger promptly after the first fatal attack on August 9. He claimed timely action could have prevented Ravikumar’s death and demanded that the animal be eliminated as the attacks occurred near residential areas.
Seven people were arrested after bottles were allegedly thrown during the August 21 protest, injuring two police personnel. Political representatives alleged that public functionaries had been detained instead of those directly responsible for the violence.
Revenue officials have not yet held talks with political parties and traders’ associations. Gudalur Revenue Divisional Officer S.K. Gunasekaran said discussions would begin after obtaining permission from Nilgiris Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Taneeru.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department has increased the number of cages from six to eight and camera traps to 60. District Forest Officer P. Devaraj said teams had found pugmarks and scat indicating the tiger’s presence, although the animal had not yet been sighted directly.
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