By our Religious Correspondent
Kochi, Feb 12 IVC) The Major Archbishop of the Syro-malabar Church, Mar Raphael Thattil strongly criticized the State Government and the officials of the Forest Department following their failure in protecting life and property of innocent persons from the attacks of wild elephants.
Thattil said in a statement here yesterday that it was not justifiable at all losing precious lives of innocent human beings to the wickedness of wild elephants. The incident in which a youth was killed by a wild elephant on Feb 10 at Mananthavady could not be justified. It was a matter of shame for the State and called upon the appropriate authorities to take immediate steps for preventing repeat of such events in future , the statement added.
The Major Archbishop demanded that exemplary action should be taken against those were responsible for the death of a farmer in Mananthavady by the attack of the wild elephant. The Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Church (KRLCC) Vice President , Joseph Jude said in a separate statement here yesterday that the State Government should ensure the safety and protection of innocent human beings in the hill areas of the State.
It was not enough for the Government to take precautionary measures when the innocent lives were destroyed by elephants and other wild animals and or disasters struck but effective steps should initiated with a view to preventing loss of lives and disasters occurred, the statement added. KRLCC’s statement claimed that 42 persons were by the elephants in the State during the tenure of the Government headed by Piniarayi Vijayan.