Tension grips Malayidamthuruth amid intense protests

A tense atmosphere prevailed in Pariyathukavu, a Dalit settlement in Malayidamthuruth near Kizhakkambalam, on Saturday (May 23) as residents stood guard against a fresh attempt to evict them from their homes under a court order.

Fearing eviction, members of the seven families were on high alert, anticipating action by the Advocates Commission appointed to enforce the eviction order after the Perumbavoor Munsif Court, with the support of Left parties, ordered the process to be completed by Saturday.

The commission had previously had to return without executing the order 15 times; The most recent police brutality had turned into a statewide political debate. The United Democratic Front government intervened in the matter on Friday, promising to resolve the legal dispute and rehabilitate residents in case of court reversal. The government also assured residents that there would be no police intervention in the name of evacuation. The remarks came even as the CPI(M) was intensifying its agitation against the eviction drive.

Manoj PC, a resident of the settlement, said, “We were all ready to resist the eviction attempt if the Defense Commission came today as well. But they did not come. Although various leaders visited us in solidarity, members of the affected families were at the protest site throughout the day.”

CPI(M) district secretary S. Sathish inaugurated a protest meeting organized by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in Malayidamthuruth on Saturday morning. DYFI activists from various parts of the district also participated in the protest.

Mr. Sathish said the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government was keen to avoid any police intervention even though the Advocacy Commission had attempted to enforce the eviction order 14 times since September 2023. “The LDF government’s position was that all possible measures should be explored to prevent affected families from being evicted from their homes,” he said.

Among those who visited Pariyathukavu on Saturday were Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union State Secretary N. Chandran, former Kongad MLA Santhakumari K., Pattikajathi Kshema Samithi State Secretary V. Ponnukuttan and State treasurer VR Salini.

CPI(M) External Affairs Minister MV Govindan is likely to visit the affected families on Monday, May 25.

Meanwhile, Thadiyittaparambu police said on Saturday that it had not received any request for police protection from the Lawyers’ Commission.