After what happened in Muthanga and Chengara, the incident-free eviction of 200-odd tribal and non-tribal families from the 500-acre Perinjankutty teak plantation in Munnar on February 10 happened like a miracle, it was explained here on Wednesday.

In the morning that day, when the forest and police officials entered the plantation, the area looked combustible with anti-social elements mingling with women and children.

Prior planning ensured that every attempt at fanning trouble was thwarted. Seven hours later, with not a single person injured, the entire area was cleared of encroachers and taken over.

“It was a keyhole surgery carried out with amazing precision,” said chief wildlife warden Valliyil Gopinathan. It was in December 2008 that a group of 18 tribal families attempted to pitch their tents in the Perinjankutty teak plantation. When the forest department objected, they returned with a group of 100 people and forcibly occupied the land.

Ever since, the number of tribal and non-tribal settlers had grown. Several teak trees had been cut down and smuggled out, and some even “sold” forest land —what they possessed for a brief period — at throwaway prices. The LDF government delayed action possibly because it feared another Chengara or Muthanga.

The UDF government gave its go-ahead for the eviction on February 1. The operation was led by chief forest conservator Bennichan Thomas, and Idukki SP George Varghese. “We had meticulously studied the topography of the area and divided it into four sectors,” said Munnar DFO N.C. Induchoodan. “Each sector was put under the charge of a DFO, CI, five SIs and five range officers,” he said.

The eviction was carried out simultaneously before the settlers could re-group in any effective manner. Children and young girls were placed with neighbours and relatives while the adults were arrested and removed.