Kakkayam on boil over encroachment

Kozhikode: The issue of encroachment of forest land is again on the boil in Kakkayam, with a section of people up in arms against the forest department. A protest convention held in Kakkayam on Wednesday decided to lay siege to the forest department counter put up at Kakkayam town, on April 23. The protestors allege that the functioning of the counter is affecting their lives.

But interestingly, the issue has gathered steam after the forest department slapped eviction notices to 25 land encroachers as per the high court ruling. According to sources, notices were issued to big encroachers who had gobbled up forest land over an area of 100 acres. “This actually triggered the protest. The encroachers do not want the presence of forest department there,” said a source.