Woman Killed as Wild Boars Attack Dawn Prayer Group in Malappuram

A 60-year-old woman died and three people were injured after wild boars attacked a group walking to a religious centre for dawn prayers in East Chathaloor, Edavanna, in Kerala’s Malappuram district on Sunday, police said.

The deceased was identified as P K Fathima, a resident of East Chathaloor. The injured were Muhammad Ali, Hameed and V P Abdullah.

Police said the group encountered a sounder of wild boars while walking before sunrise. Fathima and Ali, who were at the front, were attacked first. The animals then charged at the others, injuring the remaining members of the group.

All four were taken to a nearby hospital, where Fathima succumbed to her injuries, police said. The other three sustained minor injuries and were expected to be discharged after medical examinations.

Wild boars are frequently spotted in the area, and residents have complained about the animals damaging crops, according to police.

Following the incident, state minister P K Basheer announced that the government would provide Rs 14 lakh in compensation to Fathima’s family. The amount comprises Rs 10 lakh from the Forest Department and Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund, according to local reports. The minister said Rs 5 lakh from the Forest Department would be handed over to the family initially.

The government would also cover the medical expenses of the three injured people. A Forest Department rapid response team is to be sent to the area, and a special drive will be conducted to address the wild boar problem, the minister said.

Residents in the region have repeatedly raised concerns about crop damage caused by wild boars. In a separate incident reported earlier in Malappuram district, a farmer said the animals damaged arecanut saplings and banana plants despite fencing and netting on the property.

The latest attack has drawn attention to the recurring presence of wild boars near inhabited areas. Police have not disclosed what triggered the animals’ charge on Sunday.