The Kerala forest minister is seeking a report after a tribal man threatened to kill himself over impounding a vehicle

Forest Minister Shibu Baby John has sought a report from Munnar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) regarding the seizure of an earthmoving machine owned by a tribal man. According to sources, the minister intervened after the owner threatened to self-immolate outside the Nagarampara forest range office under the Kothamangalam forest range on Thursday (July 9, 2026).

According to an indigenous man, identified as Ajeesh Kumar (46), a resident of Pazhayarikandam in Kanjikkuzhy, forest officials in 2020 initiated criminal proceedings against him and another resident for removing soil and uprooting trees on land that had been in the possession of a private person for years. The forest department initially valued the uprooted trees at just ₹700. However, a year later, the deputy ranger ranger allegedly ordered Mr. Kumar to hand over his vehicle to the forest department, promising to hand it over within 10 days.

Four-and-a-half years later, the forest department has still not released the earthmoving machine, which is valued at ₹30,000. Mr. Kumar said he approached the High Court two years ago, which ordered the department to decide on the release of the vehicle, but the forest officials opposed it.

A meeting to be held

Driven to desperation, a tribal man doused his body in petrol and threatened to set himself on fire outside his office on Thursday. He called off the protest only after officials assured him that a meeting would be held at the Munnar DFO office on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) to discuss the matter. The SC/ST department also intervened.

Idukki Land Freedom Movement (ILFM) president Rasak Chooravelil said the forest department seized the vehicle under Section 61A of the Kerala Forest Act. “This act is not applicable in this case,” argued Mr. Chooravelil. “The incident took place on a land that was privately owned for more than 60 years. The forest department officials are continuing their anti-human actions under the guise of illegal encroachment on forest land,” he said.

‘Individual cases’

Meanwhile, a senior official of the forest department clarified that seizure of the vehicle and felling of trees are separate cases.

“The forest department has already charged Mr. Ajeesh and another person for cutting trees on forest land and the case is currently pending in court,” the official said. “The vehicle itself has been impounded for illegal work being done in the reserve forest and the Munnar DFO is ready to give a final decision in the matter. If the order is favorable to the owner, he can get the vehicle back; otherwise it will be impounded by the government. The owner has the right to challenge the impoundment decision. Two years ago, when they approached the court to furnish bail but never followed through, they were not ordered to furnish bail,” the official added.

Published – 10 Jul 2026 19:55 IST