Mafia hand suspected behind wildfire

Palakkad: Poachers and illicit arrack distillers are suspected to have played a role in causing the unprecedented wildfire in different parts of Attappadi forests, including the highest peak Malleswara Mudi, on Saturday and Sunday.

Though the district have been reeling under soaring temperature this summer, forest mafia’s handiwork could not be ruled out, said Mannarkkad divisional forest officer K K Sunil Kumar.

Also, ganja cultivation was found in large areas at Attappadi after many years. The raids by Agali police in Upper Bhavani, Chittoor and other areas is said to have irked the ganja cultivators.

The recent raids indicate that the illegal cultivation has made a comeback, excise department officials said.

Ganja was spotted at Galazi, Thudukki, Korakunda and Nilambur-Kalikavu areas, they added.

Between 1995 and 2005, there was large-scale cultivation of ganja in the region. There was even ganja oil extraction units set up inside the forests, with tribesmen engaged in illegal trade. The forest areas bordering Kerala and Tamil Nadu in Attappadi and Nilgiri Hills are a difficult terrain, most suited for ganja cultivation.

According to K A Ramu, president of Kerala Adivasi Aikya Vedi, ganja cultivators could have had set fire to prevent wild elephants from entering cultivated areas. The disbanding of joint forest management committees, which had employed 300 forest watchers, too was a reason for the devastating fire that engulfed hundreds of acres of forestland, he added.