COIMBATORE: Protesters, who wanted the increasing man-animal conflict ended in Pandalur taluk, Gudalur, set ablaze forest department vehicles on Sunday.
According to sources, despite the district collector P Shankar urging the protesters to call off their road block on Pattavayal-Gudalur road up to 2.30am on Sunday, they did not budge.
On Sunday, a large number of people gathered and began blocking different places at Nilakottai and Padanthurai. The road block stalled the regular traffic on the route.
Meanwhile, a group entered the Nilakottai
forest range office and set ablaze three forest vehicles and a two-wheeler. They also damaged the forest department office and two more jeeps parked there.
Seven police personnel, including six women, were injured in the melee. They were being treated at Gudalur Government Hospital. After the situation worsened the protesters were chased away.
Meanwhile, the body of Mahalakshmi, who was killed by a tiger on Saturday while plucking tea leaves, was handed over to the relatives on Sunday afternoon after autopsy. Officials also gave a cheque for Rs 3 lakh as compensation.
From 6.30 am, Special Task Force and Armed Reserve Forest department combed the area around Pattavayal and placed three cages to trap the man-eating tiger.
Sources said the efforts to kill the tiger failed as the tiger could not be spotted. The operation was called off after dusk on Sunday.