CPM bans elderly woman from plucking coconuts from her field; Party denies allegation

NILESWARAM: CPM workers allegedly prevented an elderly woman from plucking coconuts from her land, prompting M K Radha of Nileswaram Pala to file a complaint. According to the complaint, the workers obstructed the labourer from climbing coconut trees on Saturday. Radha has complained about six CPM workers with the Kanhangad DySP.

The area has been embroiled in a conflict since 2016 concerning the construction of the Palai Regulator-cum-Bridge, as the land has not been released for the adjacent road construction, resulting in pending legal cases. When Radha attempted to harvest coconuts with workers, she was hindered by CPM workers.

However, the Perol East Local Committee refuted these claims, stating that workers from the area routinely harvest coconuts in the fields of Pali and its environs and they simply prevented external workers from entering. The workers in question were reportedly rebuffed after attempting to intrude, leading to a confrontation with locals.

The family has been accused of hindering development since 2012 by filing false cases against locals to impede the Palai Regulator-cum-Bridge project. P Manoharan, the secretary of the local committee, stated that the family is causing further disruption following the dismissal of these cases.