By O.J.George

Kerala is going to be reverberating with land grab stirs in many ways, the latest being a spate of land grabs by Adivasi Kshema Samithi (AKS) with the blessings of the CPM, the ruling party major.

The other day hundreds of adivasis, on the platform of the samithi, occupied the land in Meenangadi Krishnagiri village in Wayanad district belonging to M.V.Sreyamskumar, MLA, son of Janata Dal leader M.P.Veerendrakumar, MP.

This faction of the Janata Dal, which was for years a partner of the CPM-led LDF, recently crossed over to the Congress-led UDF.

Janata Dal has alleged that the land which was in possession of Sreyamskumar was taken over for political reasons, for its crossing over to the UDF.

The CPM leaders supporting the adivasi land grab have repudiated the allegation saying even when Veerendrakumar was with the LDF, the government had taken the stance before the court that the land in question belonged to the revenue department.

Today, AKS activists occupied the land which was in possession of Janata Dal district vice-president George Pothen at Vellaramkunnu in Wayanad district. Hundreds of Adivasis occupied the land, which extends to nearly 67 acres.

The fact that the occupation of the land was in the presence of the CPM district secretary highlights the strength of the AKS arising from the ruling party support.

Moreover, the AKS is going ahead with plans to occupy nearly 4,000 acres of land in possession of Harrisons Malayalam company.

CPM leaders have maintained that the occupation of this land would take place any time.

Such seizure of land is being planned in 15 places in Wayanad district, according to the leaders.

It should be noted that the latest occupation of land is in stark contrast to another agitation for land for tribals under the leadership of Laha Gopalan of Sadhujana Vimochana Samyuktha Vedi. His movement had completed two years of land possession stir at Chengara.

The land grab agitations may flare up the political ambience during the coming days as the issue relating to the removal of encroachments in Munnar has got diverted by concentrating on the demolition of the check dams built by the Tata company.

One finding from all these episodes could zero in on the fact that there are large extents of land which are in possession of individuals, institutions, companies and other entities unauthorisedly.