Officials stop Nanjiyamma from entering farmland in Attapadi

PALAKKAD: National award-winning singer Nanjiyamma and her family members were stopped by the police and revenue officials at Attapadi when she was about to start farming on her land allocated under the Tribal Land Act.

Officials claim that Nanjiyamma was stopped because of a dispute over ownership of this land. However, Nanjiyamma said that the revenue officials are conniving with some people, keen to take possession of the land by forging documents.

Attapadi Tribal Taluk Tehsildar PA Shanawaz Khan led the revenue officials and Agali Police to stop the national award singer from entering the land. According to details, some people who claimed ownership of the land were also present at the location.

The TLA case was between Kanthaswami Boyan and Nanjiyamma’s husband's family. Nanjiyamma said she obtained a favourable verdict in the case in 2023.

Adivasi Bharat Mahasabha state convener TR Chandran said that the officials and the courts are not considering the cases under the Adivasi Land Act. Nanjiamma informed that the cultivation has been postponed on the Tehsildar's assurance that the issue will be discussed on Friday.

Nanjiyamma came in a tractor to plough four acres and said she would never concede her land to anyone.

“If the land is not returned, we will move legally. This is my grandfather’s land” said Nanjiyamma.