Congress Exploits Teen’s Tragic Death Ahead of Nilambur Bypoll

In a shocking display of political opportunism, the Congress party has swooped in to exploit the tragic death of 15 -year -old Ananthu aka Jithu, killed by an illegal electric wild boar trap in Nilambur Vazhikkadavu,for electoral gains ahead of the Nilambur bypoll. Rather than standing by the grieving family or seeking justice through lawful means, the party chose to hijack the incident and turn it into a street-level political drama.
Congress Kerala General Secretary Jyothikumar Chamakkala posted on Facebook soon after the UDF protest, painting a disturbing picture. He wrote: “After the protest over the death of 15-year-old Jithu, who was killed in a wild boar trap set by illegally drawing electricity from the line with the help of KSEB officials at Nilambur Vazhikkadavu, late at night, along with his friends...” But beyond that, Chamakkala’s silence on the role of Congress insiders speaks volumes. Rather than consoling the boy’s family, the Congress was seen staging roadblocks, clashing with police, and launching a full-blown campaign to vilify the government.
The speed at which the Congress launched its protest raises an uncomfortable question, how did they mobilize even before locals were fully aware of the incident? With the bypoll around the corner, this reeks of a well-rehearsed act. The UDF’s first public statement branded the death as a “government-sponsored murder”, a bold and baseless accusation. But soon, the mask slipped: the main accused turned out to be an active Congress worker, closely associated with a ward member who is a known supporter of the UDF candidate.
While the Congress attempts to pin the blame on the LDF and the administration, the facts contradict their narrative. The trap was laid on private land. The landowner has denied setting up any electric fencing. Locals stated they saw no sign of such wiring the day before. KSEB officials have confirmed they had no knowledge of any illegal connection. The forest department clarified that it hasn’t used electric fencing in the area for years.
Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran pointed to the suspicious timing of Congress’s “spontaneous” protest, calling it a politically motivated conspiracy. Two individuals have been taken into custody, and their interrogation is ongoing.
LDF candidate M Swaraj also responded, calling the incident deeply unfortunate and demanding a thorough investigation. He reminded the public of another eerily similar incident two months ago in Putharippadam, where a Congress worker named Puthanveetil Ramakrishnan (Kunjoottan) died in an electric trap. Back then, there were no UDF roadblocks, no screaming press conferences, no crocodile tears, because there was no election to contest.
That double standard exposes the Congress for what it is: a fox in sheep’s clothing. Behind the mask of outrage lies cold political calculation. While pretending to mourn, they are simply counting votes.
Even when the loss is of a child’s life, Congress appears to know no line it won’t cross for electoral gain. This is not leadership. This is opportunism at its most shameful.

Forest Department Carries Out 6.21 crore Defense and Construction Works in Nilambur
To mitigate human-wildlife conflict across the Nilambur constituency, the Forest Department has implemented prevention and infrastructure development projects worth 6.21 crore rupees over the past nine years. This directly challenges the UDF’s narrative that the Kerala government has failed to address the issue. The claim of "state-sponsored murder" is baseless and stands nullified. In addition, several initiatives have been launched to promote infrastructure development and ensure the welfare of tribal communities.
Under the Forest Rights Act, the government handed over 250.3889 hectares of land to 715 beneficiaries in the Nilambur North Division and 26.0478 hectares to 239 beneficiaries in the South Division during this period. In response to wildlife attacks, a total of 787.194 lakh rupees has been paid as compensation across both divisions.
A total of 145.51 km of solar fencing has been constructed, along with 46.90 km of solar hanging fences, 4.53 km of elephant trenches, and 2.37 km of elephant paths. A project under the KIIFB scheme has received administrative approval for constructing 23.25 km of solar hanging fences in the Karulai and Kalikavu ranges of Nilambur South Division.
An eco-shop was started at Aruvacode for the sale of forest products. At the Kannoli cashew compound, a herbal garden, nakshatra forest, butterfly garden, and open market have been established. An eco-tourism amenity center was constructed at Nedungayath in the Karulai range at a cost of ₹35.44 lakh. Additionally, several road construction projects have been completed during this period.