Gandhi halted his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Varanasi abruptly to address intense protests by locals regarding the human-animal conflicts in Wayanad, redirecting his focus to his constituency's pressing issues.

During his visit, Gandhi was accompanied by AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal and other local leaders, demonstrating a unified effort to address the challenges faced by the community.

Spending over 20 minutes at each victim's home, Gandhi engaged in conversations with the families of Aji and Paul, expressing his solidarity and offering support during their difficult times.

Before departing for Prayagraj, Gandhi will participate in an assessment and review meeting with district officials, aiming to discuss strategies and solutions to mitigate the escalating human-animal conflict in Wayanad.

The region has witnessed protests due to the increasing frequency of wild animal attacks, prompting political parties to call for hartals to raise awareness about the issue and demand immediate action from authorities.

A high-level meeting is scheduled in Wayanad on February 20, where ministers from the Revenue, Forest, and Local Self-Government Departments will join local representatives and officials to devise effective measures to address the wildlife-related incidents.

As incidents of wildlife attacks persist, tensions remain high in Wayanad. A recent incident involving a cow's death attributed to a wild animal attack further intensified demands for swift action from the forest department and local authorities.