KALPETTA: A group of youngsters under the auspices of Kanjirathinal Bhoosamara Sahaya Samithi, the action council formed to assist the agitation of the family which was illegally deprived of its land, kept the police and fire force personnel on tenterhooks for hours threatening to commit suicide jumping from the top of the Civil Station building here on Friday. The agitation was in protest against the lethargy of the LDF government in resolving the issue of the family that has been on an indefinite sit-in in front of the Collectorate for the last 574 days.
Later, the agitation was called off as the additional district magistrate assured the youngsters that the issue would be discussed in the presence of Chief Minister, misters of forest and revenue and Kalpetta MLA C.K. Saseendran on March 14. George and his brother Jose had bought 12 acres of Janmam patta land in 1967.
The forest department in 1977 made an attempt to evict the farmer claiming that the department had notified the land under Kerala Private Forest Vesting and Assignment Act. The forest tribunal in a verdict in 1978, however, called the move illegal and recognised the right of the farmer.
It is alleged that forest officials then fabricated evidence and won the case in series of legal wrangles. Interestingly, the forest department again notified the land in 2012. Both George and wife Elikkutty, passed away even as they were fighting the battle with the department. Despite two inquiry reports — one by the vigilance department and another by the Mananthavadi sub collector Seeram Sambasiva Rao — in favour of the farmer, changing governments failed to ensure justice for the family.
The protest started by 11 am when a group of youngsters led by Youva Janatha Dal (S) district secretary C.P. Rayees and Kalpetta municipal committee secretary N.G. Shajon climbed over the Civil Station building and started shouting slogans. Some of the agitators also tried jump down from the building. A police team led by DySP Muhammmed Shafi and the Fire and safety personnel from Kalpetta unit also rushed to the spot. Soon ADM K. Raju called a meeting with the office-bearers action council. Later, after discussion with Saseendran, the ADM assured them in writing that a high-level meeting would be held in Thiruvananthapuram on March 14.
