Tribals encroach revenue land

Pathanamthitta, Feb 24 (UNI) Tribal activists, owing allegiance to Adivasi Malaveda Mahasabha, encroached upon the revenue surplus land in the Thamarappally estate at Olikallu near Vadasserikkara today.

Top officials of district administration held negotiation with the leaders of the encroachers, but failed to evacuate them. District Collector Asok Kumar Singh said peaceful efforts would continue to reach a solution.

At the same time, the Adivasi outfit spearheading the struggle, decided to continue the forceful occupation. Eleven families comprising 30 members sneaked into 11 acres of revenue land last night and set up make-shift huts this morning using branches of trees and folliage.

On hearing the news, revenue, police and forest officials rushed to the spot. In the morning, Ranni Tahsildar Balakrishna Pillai and additional district Magistrate (ADM) B Mohan tried to evacuate the encroachers through discussions but to no avail. In the afternoon, district collector too tried his hand, but no positive result emerged out of it.

Police said the brain behind the struggle was that of CPI(ML), a naxalite outfit. Large number of police personnel had been deployed in the troubled area to avert any untoward incident.

UNI