Meeting on tribal land distribution ended inconclusive

Kannur, Kerala, May 15 (UNI) The two-and-a-half- hour meeting between government authorities and representatives of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha (AGM) on allotment of land to the tribals from the Aralam farm ended inconclusive today.

AGM General Secretary M Geethanandan told reporters after the meeting that the government would consider giving title deeds to the tribals only if the more than 1,000 families vacated "illegal occupation" of the farm.

However, the AGM made it clear at the meeting that none of the families would leave the farm as they had "genuine claim" on the land.

The AGM has reportedly dug a trench in some part of the farm in an effort to resist any move by the authorities to forcibly evict the tribals.

UNI AK PMM DK1800