MALAPPURAM: The simmering protests against the acquisition of 28 acres of paddy fields for NH 66 bypass near Kottakkal here could well turn into a 'Vayalkilikal' moment. As the Thottungal Padashekhara Samithi which is spearheading the agitation intensified it on Tuesday, the police arrested Shibina Churapulakkal who is on an indefinite hunger strike for the past three days. The police faced stiff resistance from protesters who blocked them raising slogans. But they managed to remove the protesters by 4 pm using force. The residents of Edarikode and Marakara panchayats are against the survey for the proposed 4.4 km bypass from Swagathamadu to Palachiramad through 28 acres of paddy fields and displacing many.
The revenue authorities began the survey along the proposed stretch last week amidst strong protest including stoning the police in Cherushola. An estimated 86 families could get displaced for the bypass filling the fields. The UDF-ruled Edarikode and Marakara panchayats had earlier passed resolutions against evicting 86 families for the project. "The indefinite strike will continue until our demands are met," Edarikode panchayat vice-president V.T. Subair Thangal said. Indian Union Muslim League also backs the agitation.
Though the leadership distanced themselves from the local protests, the party state general secretary K.P.A. Majeed visited the agitation venue on Monday and demanded that the government should talk to the local community and take them into confidence. On Tuesday, the IUML district committee issued a statement demanding government to hear them. "The government move using massive police force has caused unease among the public. The government should avoid the densely populated area while acquiring the land for the NH," it stated.
