Land stir: Administration calls farmer’s kin for talks

KOZHIKODE: Will the state government finally help the  family of late Kanjirathinal George, and recognize their right over their land which was illegally kept by the forest department for more than four decades?  

With the intervention of Chief minister Oommen Chandy, the Wayanad district administration has invited the family members of George, including daughter Treesa and husband James who were on an indefinite sit-in strike for the last forty days in front of the Collectorate, for conciliatory talks on Friday.

The state government also deputed minister for SC/ST welfare PK Jayalakshmi to settle the issue amicably and announce a package for the family.

The agitation has been getting widespread support from various corners including leaders of all political parties, church organizations and bishops of Mananthavadi and Sulthan Bathery dioceses.   

It is to be recalled that Kanjirathinal George, a farmer from Vellamunda in Mananthavadi died in an orphanage two years back despite owning 12 acres Janmam patta land which was caught in a decades’ long legal battle with the forest department.

The forest department illegally kept the land in custody for decades claiming that it was notified as vested forest land in 1977 under the Kerala Private Forest Vesting and Assignment act. But contrary to its claims, the forest department notified the land in 2013, that too after the death of the farmer.

James, son-in-law of George, told DC that he would attend the talks. “I am not ready to accept any deal other than the 12 acres land owned by our father”, he said.