Puttur, August 8, 2025: At the Keyyuru village panchayat hall, residents gathered for a tense gram sabha meeting where they expressed their growing annoyance regarding the persistent damage to their crops by wild elephants and boars. Panchayat president Sharath Kumar Madavu presided over the assembly, which was filled with farmers desperately calling for swift intervention. The main demands from the agricultural community included the removal of an aggressive elephant and authorization to control the wild boar population, which had been causing significant disruptions to their livelihoods.
Wildlife Threat Sparks Fear and Losses
For the past couple of years, a problematic elephant has been wreaking havoc in Keyyuru, consistently damaging crops and instilling fear among residents. Farmer Shivashreeranjana Rai Derla has emphasized the gravity of the situation, mentioning that a local woman from a nearby village was tragically killed in one of these incidents. Although the forest department has made attempts to scare the elephant away, it tends to come back the following day, leaving the farmers in a vulnerable position. Rai has strongly requested that the authorities find a permanent solution to this issue, such as relocating the elephant. This plea has been echoed by Kitta Ajila Kaniyaru. In response, the local assembly has passed a resolution pushing for immediate and decisive action to be taken.
Adding to their troubles, farmers are facing unabated destruction of their crops by wild boars and monkeys. Drawing a parallel with Kerala's move to permit the culling of wild boars, Rai has called on the Karnataka government to grant the same allowance to address this issue effectively. Emphasizing the severe financial strain on the agricultural community, he asserted, "Farmers are enduring substantial economic hardships. It's imperative that the government takes action."
Concerns Over Illegal Firearms and BPL Cards
The meeting covered various pressing matters. Farmers expressed their worries regarding the obligatory handover of licensed firearms during election periods, which frequently results in damage while kept at police stations. They contended that legally owned weapons do not pose a risk and suggested focusing efforts on combating illicit firearms. Furthermore, Ramakrishna Bhat urged for a reassessment of the distribution of Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards to guarantee equity.
Forest Range Officer Vidyaraani led the conversations, and various officials from different departments shared their latest information. The Panchayat's vice-president, Sumitra Pallathadka, and members such as Abdul Khadar Merla, Battyappa Rai Derla, and Jayanthi S Bhandari all contributed actively to the discussions.
A detailed report was presented by Panchayat Development Officer Namitha A K, and the meeting was warmly welcomed by secretary Surendra Rai Ilanthaje. The consensus from the gram sabha emphasized the critical need to tackle wildlife issues and improve the well-being of local farmers in Keyyuru. The villagers are now eagerly anticipating substantial measures from the authorities to address these pressing concerns.
Keywords: Keyyuru gram sabha, wild elephant, wild boar culling, crop damage, Puttur taluk, Karnataka farmers, wildlife menace, forest department, agricultural losses, BPL card review, illegal firearms