Indian Cricketer Minnu Mani's aunt killed in Tiger attack in Kerala's Wayanad

Radha (45), the aunt of Indian cricketer Minnu Mani, was mauled to death by a tiger near Mananthavady in Kerala's Wayanad district on Friday.

The victim, a tribal woman and the wife of a temporary forest watcher, was attacked while walking towards her workplace in a coffee plantation near Pancharakolli.

Radha's death has sparked outrage among local residents, who have been protesting the rising instances of human-wildlife conflict in the region.

This marks the eighth such fatal tiger attack in Wayanad over the past decade.

Expressing her grief, Minnu Mani, the first tribal woman from Kerala to play international cricket, called for swift action to address the growing threat.

"I wish the authorities take strict measures against the tiger responsible for this tragedy," she said.

Following discussions with protesters, Minister Kelu announced that the government had decided to eliminate the tiger and provide financial compensation to the victim’s family.

The tragic incident highlights the increasing tension between humans and wildlife in areas bordering forests across Kerala.

Radha's funeral is scheduled to take place today in her hometown near Mananthavady.

It occurred just a day after the Kerala Assembly debated the rising man-animal conflict, which continues to endanger both lives and livelihoods.

The tiger attack has reignited calls for more robust measures to manage the state's wildlife population and ensure the safety of people living in forest fringe areas.