A group of landless tribesmen, under the aegis of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha (AGM), resumed their land agitation in various parts of Wayanad on Thursday.
The tribesmen resumed the stir in protest against the apathy of the government in keeping its promises on rehabilitating 285 tribal families involved in the Muthanga agitation in 2003.
The protesters erected huts on three pieces of land identified for their resettlement at Valad in Mananthavady taluk, Chethalayam in Sulthan Bathery taluk, and Vellarimala in Vythiri taluk. They began the stir after ‘gothra puja’ by tribal chieftains in those areas.
AGM chairperson C.K. Janu inaugurated the stir at Valad at 10 a. m. Ms. Janu said the organisation called off its ‘Nilpu Samaram’ (standing protest) in front of the Secretariat three years ago after the government promised to fulfil its demands.
Seeks compensation
Its demands included compensation for children and other victims arrested in connection with the stir. Though former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had disbursed possession certificates for one acre each to 24 families, the land was yet to be provided to them, Ms. Janu said.
Moreover, the government was trying to sabotage the resettlement, she added. The agitation would continue till the government kept its promises, Ms. Janu said.
As many as 50 tribal families erected huts on the land on Thursday.
