Velimalai estate workers flag tiger threat, seek action

A tiger is on the prowl in the rubber estates of Velimalai Hills for the past few weeks, alleged CITU Estate Workers Union and rubber estate workers on Saturday.

- M ABDUL RABI @Kanniyakumari

Claiming that they have been hesitant to go for tapping works in the early hours, fearing the tiger's presence, the workers urged the forest department to take steps to capture the animal at the earliest.

Speaking to TNIE, CITU Kanniyakumari District Estate Workers Union general secretary M Valsa Kumar said Velimalai Hills under the Vellimalai Forest Range in Kanniyakumari consists of several rubber estates. "Recently, a tapping worker spotted a tiger and fear gripped the workers as word spread," he said.