Having been chased by a Wild Gaur, Sangilipandi, a forest watcher died of a cardiac arrest, today. In this regard, tense moments prevailed at the Valparai Government hospital as relatives and co-workers of Sangilipandi, refused to take his body without due compensation from the government.
Forest watcher Sankilipandi alias Ganapathy (57) and co-worker Dharmaraj were on their duty at Konalaaru anti-poaching camp along with forest officer, Thirumalaiswamy. Unexpectedly, they encountered a wild gaur at very close quarters. Spread on different directions, all the three ran to safeguard their lives. After a short while, they found that sangilipandi had gone missing from the site.
Later upon searching, they found him besides a bush panting heavily in fear. As he complained of chest congestion, they rushed him to the Valparai government hospital for treatment. But the doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Reacting to his shocking death news, his relatives and co-workers demanded Rs. 5 lakhs paid as compensation to his family. The officials promised them to escalate the issue to the concerned department with immediate effect. Not agreeing to their terms, the protesters approached to the Forest Officer, Sakthivel seeking compensation.
After long arguments and pacifications the relatives were paid a ransom of Rs. 25,000 as an initial compensation amount along with promises to pay 3 lakhs in whole as compensation for the family of the deceased, as per procedure.