Farmer fights for justice on Thiruvonam

KOZHIKODE: Even on Thiruvonam Day,  a farmer was continuing his indefinite agitation in front of the Wayanad collectorate for the land illegally kept in the custody of forest department for more than four decades. A Vigilance inquiry had exposed the fraud committed by a section of forest officials to cover up the fact that the 12 acres of land vested by them was owned by the late Kanjirathinal George. His son-in-law, K.K. James, has been staging the agitation since August 15, 2015. But the government has not  taken any action against the perpetrators to restore the legal  right of the farmer, as most of the accused have  retired from service in the forest department.

James  told DC that all the CPM leaders,  including present Kalpetta MLA C.K. Saseendran,  had assured him before the election that the issue would be sorted out as soon as the LDF government assumed office. “It was Mr Saseendran and former MLA P. Krishnaprasad who helped my family to fight for justice in the early stages after the intervention of the late Mathai Chacko MLA in 2004. During the tenure of the former LDF ministry headed by Mr V.S. Achuthanandan,  a decision was taken to give us land against which an organization went to the HC bagging a stay order at the behest of the tainted forest officials.  No steps were taken so far to apprise the HC about the real situation despite the recurring agitations by CPM district committee in Wayanad,”  he said.

The forest department had charged cases against Mr  Saseendran and former CPM MLA P. Krishnaprasad.  “I doubt the CPI leadership which keeps the forest portfolio has refused to act,”  he alleged. After a series of protests by the public, an all-party delegation met former CM Oommen Chandy who also directed the forest and law ministries to take action.   But that was also in vain, laments James.

“An affidavit by the state government in the HC attesting our ownership over the land would end it all. Though attempts are on to seek legal remedies, I am not  physically and financially fit to fight against those at the top. Still I have hope in democracy and the judiciary,” James said. Recently,  the HC had sought a report from the Wayanad Legal Services Authority about the plight of the family. The judge himself came to James and collected the details. It was in 1967 that the late George and his brother Jose had bought the 12 acres of Janmam patta land.