The help of the forest department has been sought by the residents of Indira Nagar and surroundings near Pandhalur to tackle the menace caused by a lone makhna (tuskless male elephant).
At a meeting held in Pandhalur on Thursday the residents pointed out that over the last few months the pachyderm had been frequently straying close to human habitations like Cherangode,Eliyas Kadai,Pandhalur and Irumbupaalam.As a result people were living in fear of being attacked and normal life was affected.
On Wednesday the animal had damaged a car near Pandhalur and entered Indira Nagar.
Demanding action the residents had staged a road blockade agitation.
They wanted the forest officials to remove the elephant from the area with the help of kumkis (working elephants).
The District Forest Officer,Gudalur Deepak Belji assured them that the matter would be taken up with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and efforts made to deal with the problem.