Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Gudalur Groups Call Two-Day Strike After Tiger Attack Deaths
Two men in Gudalur are believed to have been killed by a tiger.
People are worried because the attacks happened near homes.
Political parties, shopkeepers and transport workers have called a two-day strike.
The strike is planned for August 27 and 28.
Shops, taxis and auto-rickshaws may stay closed.
Some tourist resorts may also stop operating.
Protesters say the Forest Department should have acted sooner.
Forest teams have added cages and cameras while searching for the tiger.
Political parties, traders and transport operators called a two-day strike in Gudalur on August 27 and 28.
The shutdown follows the suspected tiger-attack deaths of two men at Lauriston in O-Valley Town Panchayat.
Participants are demanding stronger Forest Department action to prevent further wild animal attacks near residential areas.
Grocery shops, auto-rickshaws and taxis are expected to close, while some resorts and cottages may suspend operations.
The Forest Department increased cages from six to eight and camera traps to 60 but has not directly sighted the tiger.
- Who
- Political parties, traders, transport operators, plantation workers and residents of Gudalur; the Forest Department is searching for the tiger.
- What
- A two-day general strike was called after two suspected tiger-attack deaths, with demands for stronger measures to prevent further attacks.
- When
- The strike is planned for August 27 and 28; the second reported victim, K. Ravikumar, died before the August 21 protest.
- Where
- Gudalur Assembly constituency, including Lauriston in O-Valley Town Panchayat, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Organisers want authorities to prevent additional wild animal attacks and object to what they describe as delayed action to capture the tiger.
Protesters and Political Representatives
Forest and Revenue Officials
Speed of response
Protesters and Political Representatives
DMK Gudalur town secretary S. Ilanchezhian alleged that the Forest Department failed to place traps and capture the tiger soon after the first fatal attack on August 9, saying timely action might have prevented K. Ravikumar’s death.
Forest and Revenue Officials
The Forest Department increased cages and camera traps, while teams searched for signs of the tiger and reported finding pugmarks and scat.
Action demanded against the tiger
Protesters and Political Representatives
Political representatives demanded that the animal be eliminated because the attacks occurred close to residential areas.
Forest and Revenue Officials
Officials described ongoing efforts to locate the tiger, but the articles do not report a response endorsing the demand to eliminate it.
Arrests after the protest
Protesters and Political Representatives
Political representatives said public functionaries were detained instead of those directly involved in allegedly throwing bottles during the August 21 protest.
Forest and Revenue Officials
Police arrested seven people after bottles were allegedly thrown and two police personnel were injured.
- Strike dates
- August 27 and 28
- Reported deaths
- Two men died in suspected tiger attacks at Lauriston in O-Valley Town Panchayat.
- Strike participants
- Political parties, traders, transport operators and plantation workers
- Expected closures
- Grocery shops, auto-rickshaws and taxis; resorts and cottages in Masinagudi may also suspend operations.
- Forest response
- The number of cages was increased from six to eight, and camera traps were increased to 60.
- Tiger evidence
- Teams found pugmarks and scat, but the tiger had not been directly sighted.
- Protest arrests
- Seven people were arrested after bottles were allegedly thrown during an August 21 protest, injuring two police personnel.