Over 50 other families live in puramboke land near Jisha's house

Kochi: Jisha's family is not the only ‘puramboke’ occupant of the bank of the canal in  Rayamangalam panchayat, Perumbavur.  There are more than 50  families  facing the same plight.  For the past several years,  they have been waiting for the government to step in and allot them lands. Various governments over the years have failed to keep their promises.

After the Jisha incident,  the residents are a worried lot. They  hope  that the cops will nab the culprits behind the gruesome murder. They are also worried about their safety after the murder. “Jisha's house was in a secluded location unlike other houses,” Jithu, a resident said.

“Every year,  we file applications before Rayamangalam panchayat for land but till date we have not received any positive response,” Jithu added. Ironically, only Jisha's family got a piece of land for building a house,” he added. Jisha bought the land with a grant of Rs 3.5 lakh allotted to her by the district administration in Modakuzhi panchayat.

Rayamangalam panchayat welfare standing committee chairman Jyothish Kumar also affirmed the version of the occupants.   “The plight of the occupants is pathetic.  Some years back there was a move to evict them, but it  was blocked by a people's representative. Pursuant to this the government decided to issue occupancy certificate to them.  The people were against the occupancy certificate as they needed land in other areas rather than on the banks of the canal,”  Jyothish Kumar said.