Attappady land grab row returns as tribal farmer files complaint

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Tribal farmer’s complaint reignites Attappady land grab controversy, alleging mafia resold his ancestral 10-acre land under dubious circumstances. | Photo Credit: K.K. Mustafah

The issue of alleged tribal land grab has come to the forefront in Attappady again, with a tribal farmer filing complaint that his 10-acre land has been fenced by unknown persons.

According to the complaint, tribal farmer Balan from Paloor hamlet lost a 10-acre land that his family had cultivated for generations. In his complaint filed with the Pudur police, Mr. Balan alleged that he was approached by a group in 2022 with an offer of ₹50 lakh for the land. Due to financial difficulties, he agreed.

He alleged he was told that since it was tribal land, the District Collector’s permission was needed and the full amount would be paid later. He said he had received only ₹24 lakh in instalments.

Mr. Balan alleged that last week some unknown persons entered the land and put up fences. When questioned, they claimed they had bought the land from someone in Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Balan, who contested the last civic body election unsuccessfully on Congress ticket after deserting the Communist Party of India (CPI), for which he worked for decades, said his land had been resold multiple times. He said he had paid land tax till 2023 and he thought the land was still in his possession.

On the other hand, it is being alleged that many such plots now have valid-looking documents. Some allege that documents were fudged to enable transfer, which is normally not allowed for tribal land for which only possession right is given.

Agali panchayat president Shibu Cyriac, whose name was mentioned in the complaint, has denied the allegations. Mr. Cyriac said that he had signed only as a witness after the revenue and registration departments verified the documents. He alleged that the current allegations are an attempt to cover up irregularities during the previous panchayat’s administration. The Congress seized the rule in Agali panchayat from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in the last civic polls.

Mr. Cyriac welcomed investigation by any agency into the alleged land grab. He said he suspected political motive behind the new allegations to cover up the misdeeds of the CPI(M) in the past few years.

Meanwhile, local residents alleged that such land deals were not isolated and that land worth crores of rupees is being targeted for a few lakhs. Complaints have been filed before the Chief Minister, Home Minister and Leader of the Opposition seeking a comprehensive investigation.

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