Encroachment on Tribal land and threat of eviction at Attappadi; immediate intervention from High Court

KOCHI: Immediate intervention of the Chief Justice in the issue of tribals of Attappadi , who approached the High Court with a complaint of a threat of eviction.

The tribal group said that Tamil Nadu natives have claimed the land they have been using for agriculture for three generations and that their people are threatening them. Outsiders encroached on 375 acres of traditionally held land for which pattayam has been given. The tribal group told the court that the police and officials are conniving with the encroachers and ignoring their grievances. The group expressed their grief in the morning in the presence of High Court Registrar General P Krishnakumar and Chief Justice AJ Desai. The Chief Justice directed the Kerala Legal Services Authority to receive the complaint and forward it to the Palakkad District Legal Services Authority to take further action. The action taken on the complaint should be reported.

A 16-member group including Nanji, Shival, Lakshmi, Mari, Maruti, Mayala, Lakshmi and Rugmini of Sholayoor Grama Panchayat’s Vechapathi Ward, led by Adivasi Bharat Mahasabha State Convener TR Chandran and CPI (ML) Red Star Attappadi Area Secretary Sukumaran, reached the High Court.