Kerala HRC to talk with agitators to end encroachment

Pathanamthitta, Mar 4 (UNI) Kerala Human Rights Commission member Justice A Lakshmikkutty will hold discussions with representatives of Sadhujana Vimochana Samyuktha Vedi here on Thursday to settle the 'encroachment' of Harrison Malayalam Plantation Ltd at Kumbazha.

According to Vedi President Laha Gopalan, 20,000 landless poor were living in 7,000 makeshift tents spread over 100 acres of the Estate for the last 215 days.

They were demanding provision of five acres of land and Rs 50,000 each for their 7,000 odd families.

Following a direction from the Kerala High Court, police had made an attempt to evict the encroachers yesterday. However, police were forced to withdraw the eviction drive after the 'encroachers' countered the police with threats of mass suicide.

On a petition filed by Harrison Malayalam Ltd, the High Court had directed the police to evict the encroachers without violence before March seven.

Meanwhile, police submitted before the High Court that eviction was impossible in the present context.

UNI XR JJ RL PM2024