The residents of Pariyathukavu, a Dalit settlement at Malayidomthuruth, near Kizhakkambalam, in Ernakulam district of Kerala have called off their protest against an eviction attempt for the time being in the wake of the Kerala High Court reportedly allowing two weeks for the State government to resolve the issue.

The Pariyathukavu Samarasamithi, backed by the CPI(M), decided to put off the protest on Monday (May 25) soon after the High Court reportedly granted extension to the ongoing eviction procedure, taking into consideration the UDF government’s request to grant it the time to find a solution.

“The action council had been active since September 12, 2023. However, only during the past few days we had staged continuous meetings and programmes after the police action against the residents on Wednesday (May 20). Now we have decided to wait for two weeks respecting the court’s order,” said K.M. Siraj, convenor, Pariyathukavu Samarasamithi.

Earlier in the day, CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan visited Pariyathukavu and addressed the affected families. Addressing a protest meet, Mr. Govindan assured the residents that any attempt to evict them from the land would be resisted strongly.

“The previous LDF government had been going ahead with the procedures to ensure revenue rights documents to the affected families. Whatever be the court’s verdict, there is already a people’s verdict that no resident here will be allowed to be thrown out of their homes,” the CPI(M) leader said.

Slamming the alleged police action against the residents during the latest fifteenth eviction attempt by an Advocate Commission last Wednesday, Mr. Govindan said the police was trying to make a ‘mini Muthanga’ in Malayidamthuruth just two days after the UDF came to power. He was referring to the police firing on a group of tribespeople who were protesting demanding land rights in Muthanga of Wayanad district in 2003.

He said that during all the previous 14 eviction attempts, the then LDF government had ensured that there was no police excess.

The land dispute

The Pariyathukavu land dispute concerns around seven Dalit families who live in 2.5 acres of land, the ownership of which has been claimed by a private individual. The eviction process started after multiple court orders ruled in favour of the private individual’s claim.

The affected families, meanwhile, claim that they have been living on government land for generations.

After the issue drew public attention following the police action, the UDF government has promised the residents to find a legal solution to their problem and rehabilitate them in case of a setback from the court.

‘CPI(M) protest a sham’

Congress leader and Kunnathunadu MLA V.P. Sajeendran on Monday came out against the CPI(M) calling its protests in Pariyathukavu a sham.

Addressing media here, Mr. Sajeendran said the protests lacked sincerity, as the LDF had not tried to find an amicable solution to the crisis during the four years it was in power. “It’s a private dispute between two parties, and the new government has initiated steps to resolve it amicably. Why didn’t the LDF government take up the legal fight on behalf of the affected parties, just as the UDF government has done now?” the MLA asked.

He alleged that the accusation that police action against the residents began only after the UDF came to power was false. “During the 10th eviction attempt, a person was arrested and remanded for 80 days,” he said.