'Send police, monkeys are here': Farmers in Puttur and Vitla call '112' helpline to protect crops

Puttur / Vitla: Farmers in the Puttur and Vitla regions of Karnataka find themselves in a dilemma as they grapple with the issue of protecting their crops from wild animals. In the wake of the Lok Sabha Elections, they have been asked to deposit their firearms ar the police stations.  With no arms, farmers feel vulnerable to wildlife threats.

Recently, an audio of a farmer’s call to the 112 police helpline to send police force to ward off monkeys has gone viral on social media platforms. “Monkeys have come, come quickly,” the caller is heard asking the police for assistance.

Facing the menace of monkeys, pigs, and other wild animals ravaging their farms, farmers are left with no means to defend their crops. They argue that since they have complied with the directive to deposit their air guns for a period of three months, it is now the responsibility of the police to ensure the protection of their livelihoods.

The situation has prompted farmers to take action, with many initiating campaigns and making appeals to the police for assistance. Several farmers have resorted to calling the emergency police helpline (112) when confronted with wildlife intrusion into their fields.

In response to the farmers’ plight, the Karnataka Rajya Hasuru Sena’s Dakshina Kannada district unit has called upon all licensed farmers to mobilize and utilize the emergency service 112 for assistance. Over 4,000 farmers in Dakshina Kannada district are estimated to be in possession of Kovi licenses.

Despite efforts to seek exemption from the mandatory deposit of Kovi, including filing a suit in court, farmers have faced challenges in reclaiming their firearms. While the district collector submitted exemption information to the court, the return of Kovi has been delayed, leading some farmers to resort to calling the emergency helpline for immediate assistance.