For Eldhose, it was last journey back home for Christmas

LEELAMMA, sister of Eldhose, was inconsolable as the neighbours handed over a carry bag recovered from the spot where his body was found.

- MANOJ VISWANATHAN @Kochi

Apart from vegetables, there was a Christmas star, a cake and other gifts for the family. Eldhose, who had not visited his parents for the past one month, had sought 10-day leave from the security agency to celebrate Christmas with his family. Planning to give a surprise, Eldhose did not inform his father, Varghese, about his arrival. As neighbours informed Varghese about the death of a man in an elephant attack, he never thought it would be his son.

Eldhose, the sole breadwinner of the Knacherry Kodiyatt family, reached Urulanthanni in a KSRTC bus at 8 pm on Monday and was walking home when he was trampled to death by a wild elephant. As there was no streetlight in the area, Eldhose walked in darkness and was caught in front of the tusker which was standing on the road. A family from Knacherry that passed through the area in a car found his mutilated body near Knacherry Durga temple around 8.30 pm.

As shock of the brutal elephant attack gave way to grief and anger, Urulanthanni in Kuttampuzha panchayat witnessed a rare protest on Monday night.