Mathan, face of Cholanaikar tribe and Republic Day invitee, trampled to demise by wild elephant

By Express News Service

MALAPPURAM: Karimpuzha Mathan, 73, a member of the Cholanaikar tribe and one of many invitees to the Republic Day celebrations in 2005, who was dwelling in Valkkettu hill in Karulai forest was killed by a wild elephant on Wednesday, one other Republic Day.

Forest officers stated he was trampled to demise whereas he was on his method to Mancheeri to gather his ration package. The spot the place Mathan was killed is 12 km away from Mancheeri.

The incident occurred between Valkkettu hill and Panappuzha.

Chathan, 16, who was with Mathan had a slim escape. But Mathan couldn’t run away from the elephant because of his superior age.

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Recognised because the face of the Cholanaikar group, Mathan participated the Republic Day celebrations in 2005 in New Delhi together with his spouse Karikka. “He was one of the special personalities in the community. He was always seen with a smiling face,” stated Nilambur Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) mission officer T Sreekumaran.

Mathan’s household is eligible to get Rs 10 lakh from the forest division and Rs 2 lakh from the tribal division, Sreekumaran stated.

Many individuals took to social media to precise their shock.

“I felt really sad hearing about the death of Mathan even though I have met him only once in my life. I can not forget his smile. I met him in 2019. He is from Cholanaikar community. The population of the community is only around 250. They live in cave settlements in the forest,” wrote M Suchitra, an impartial journalist, who had earlier written an article in regards to the group in 2009.

After the submit mortem, Mathan’s mortal stays had been buried within the forest on Thursday.