Malayidamthuruth grips tension amid intense protests

A protest rally against the eviction was held in Pariyathukavu on Friday. | Photo credit: Thulasi Kakkat

A tense atmosphere prevailed in Pariyathukavu, a Dalit settlement in Malayidamthuruth near Kizhakkambalam on Saturday (May 23) as residents vigiled against another attempt to evict them from their homes on the basis of a court order.

Members of the seven eviction-fearing families, backed by Left parties, were on high alert awaiting action by the Bar Commission appointed to execute the eviction order as the Perumbavoor Munsif Court ordered the process to be completed by Saturday.

The commission has had to return without executing the order on 15 occasions, the most recent of which was witnessing alleged high-handedness by the police that degenerated into a national political controversy. The United Democratic Front government intervened in the matter on Friday by promising to join the legal dispute and rehabilitate the residents if the court fails. The government also assured residents that there would be no police action in the name of eviction. The promises came even as the CPI(M) stepped up its agitation against the move.

“We were all ready to resist the eviction attempt if the Bar Commission also arrived today. But they did not turn up. Members of the affected families were at the protest site throughout the day even as various leaders visited us in solidarity,” said Manoj PC, a resident of the settlement.

CPI(M) district secretary S. Sathish launched a protest rally organized by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in Malayidamthuruth on Saturday morning. DYFI activists from different parts of the district were present at the protest.

Mr. Sathish said the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government was keen to avoid any police action even though the Bar Commission had tried 14 times since September 2023 to execute the eviction order. “The position of the LDF government was that all possible measures should be explored to prevent the affected families from being thrown out of their homes,” he said.

Kerala Karshaka Thozhilali Union state secretary N. Chandran, former Kongad MLA Santhakumari K., Pattikajathi Kshema Samithi state secretary V. Ponnukuttan and state treasurer VR Salini were among those who visited Pariyathukava on Saturday.

CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan is likely to visit the affected families on Monday (May 25).

Meanwhile, the Thadiyittaparambu police said they did not receive any request from the Bar Commission for police protection on Saturday.

Published – 24 May 2026 01:27 IST