Malayidamthuruth row: protest committee, CPI(M) criticizes CM’s statement in assembly

Chief Minister VD Satheesan’s announcement in the Assembly that the state government would provide land and houses to seven Scheduled Caste (SC) families facing potential eviction in Pariyathukavu, a Dalit settlement in Malayidamthuruth near Kizhakkambalam, did not go down well with the affected families and Pariyathukavu Samara, their campaign spearhead.

The CPI(M) district leadership also slammed the statement. Mr. Satheesan’s statement was in response to a call by Kunnathunad vice president MLA Sajeendran. The Kerala High Court last month gave the state government two weeks to find a solution and comply with the Supreme Court’s order to evict seven families in Pariyathukavu. The eviction order was issued by the Supreme Court four years ago in favor of a private individual in a land dispute over 2.62 acres allegedly falling within Puramboke’s 19.98 acres of land. The High Court posted the case for hearing on June 9.

“The decision to grant land and houses came out of the blue, without the knowledge of the affected families or the Samar Samiths. Giving a few cents to the families was an option that was available to the previous government as well. All along, we were of the view that the disputed 19.98 acres should be surveyed and if it is found to be government puramboke land, title deeds should be issued to the families converted there by KM Siraj, who settled there they moved in. Pariyathukavu Samara Samithi.

The decision appears to be an attempt to backtrack on the government’s earlier assurance of measuring the land to determine whether it was puramboke land or belonged to a private individual who went to court claiming ownership. Mr. Sajeendran had publicly opposed the demarcation of the plot before the Assembly elections. However, the decision ultimately rests with the families involved. The Samiths will not object to benefiting from the government offer if they so wish, Siraj added.

PT Saji, a member of one of the seven affected families, said moving out of their country was out of the question. “The undertaking to measure the land to ascertain whether it was puramboke land was initially given to us by minister Roji M. John when the district collector called a meeting to discuss the matter. Later, a similar assurance was given by KA Thulasi, minister for scheduled castes welfare, when she visited the families,” he said.

CPI(M) district secretary S Satish said the chief minister claimed that the affected families had agreed to the government’s assurance of providing land and constructing houses for their rehabilitation. However, the families say they did not accept the rehabilitation. “In the absence of any such discussions with the families, the Chief Minister lied in the Assembly. This amounts to protecting the land mafia and deceiving the Dalit families,” Mr. Satish said.

He claimed that Dalit families settled there for generations would not be allowed to evict. “It is unbecoming of the Chief Minister to make statements that mislead the public. People will see through it. The CPI(M) will remain steadfast against the families until they get land ownership,” Satish added.

Published – 02 Jun 2026 21:37 IST