Tension erupts during eviction procedures at Malayidamthuruth; locals protest, government intervenes

KOCHI: Tension erupted at Malayidamthuruth near Kizhakkambalam in Ernakulam during a police operation to evict Scheduled Caste families from the area. A protester threatened suicide by pouring petrol on himself at the protest site. Following intense protests, the government ordered the eviction drive to be halted. The eviction proceedings had begun based on a Supreme Court order.

Police had used water cannons at the protest venue after a man attempted self-harm by pouring petrol over his head. Authorities also attempted to arrest and remove protesters from the site. As the protest intensified, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala intervened in the matter and directed the officials to stop the eviction process. Following this, the police withdrew from the area. Attempts had been made several times in the past to evict the families, but authorities had backed down due to protests. CPM local leaders, including the area secretary, also came out in support of the protesting families.

An earlier attempt to carry out the eviction in 2022 following the Supreme Court order was also stopped after protests. Officials have had to suspend land measurement and demolition procedures 14 times due to resistance from residents. The land dispute in Malayidamthuruth has continued for nearly five decades. Seven families currently live in the disputed area, and there is still no clarity regarding their rehabilitation if they are evicted.

The dispute began 58 years ago when Kannoth Sankaran Nair claimed that a man named Kalukurumban had illegally occupied the land. Chothi, the son of Kalukurumban, argued that the property had been inherited through his grandfather. However, Sankaran Nair approached the court claiming the land belonged to his ancestors. The eviction process began after the Supreme Court verdict went against the Scheduled Caste families.