The police action for eviction of eight Dalit families from the Malaidam Thuruth Paryath Unnathi area in Kunnathunad constituency in Ernakulam district, and the clashes that followed, have triggered a fresh controversy in the state. Following a Supreme Court order, the commission appointed to oversee the eviction reached the spot with police protection last Wednesday. Earlier, whenever the commission had visited the site, it had retreated following protests by local residents and those living there. However, this time the advocate commission arrived with the stand that, following the court’s final order, it would not withdraw without carrying out the eviction. Activists, including women and children, blocked the commission members and police officials on the bridge over the Periyar Valley canal leading to the settlement. Although attempts were made subsequently to hold talks with the protesters, those too failed, and the commission’s attempt to enter the site with police assistance led to clashes. Although the protesters poured kerosene on themselves and threatened self-immolation, the police did not agree to withdraw. However, they did not hesitate to confront the protesters. Many people, including elderly residents injured in the baton charge, are now in hospital. The protesters are determined that they will not leave the place where they have lived for decades, no matter however much force is used against them. The current opposition party, the CPM has alleged that this incident, which occurred on the third day after the UDF government led by V.D. Satheesan assumed power, was carried out in collusion with officials for the benefit of the land mafia in the area. Meanwhile, the Perumbavoor Munsiff Court has also directed that the eviction process be completed by Saturday. The government now finds itself caught between court intervention and the distress of a handful of Dalit families on the verge of losing their homes.
The Malaidam Thuruth issue is more than half a century old. The dispute began in 1968 when a man named Kannoth Shankaran Nair came forward claiming that two and a half acres within the 19 acres of government land at Malaidam Thuruth in Vazhakulam, Kunnathunad taluk, was his private property. Shankaran Nair alleged that his land had been illegally encroached upon by a man named Kalukurumban, who belonged to the Scheduled Caste community. Today, Kalukurumban’s children and grandchildren continue to live there. The first case was filed in the Perumbavoor Munsiff Court, and the verdict was in Shankaran Nair’s favour. Although the residents filed an objection petition, it yielded no result. Later, the High Court also upheld the Munsiff Court’s order. At no stage in the legal proceedings was sufficient consideration given to the fact that these Dalit families had been living there for decades. Finally, the Supreme Court intervened and appointed a commission to supervise the eviction. It was in September 2023 that the advocate commission first reached the site to carry out the eviction proceedings. However, following protests by the local residents, the official team had to withdraw. After this was repeated 12 times, the High Court intervened again last March. The court directed that the eviction be carried out immediately. However, because of the election period, the operation was postponed to May 20 after the Home Department argued that adequate police deployment was not available. It was on that day that the unfortunate events began.
Since the issue at Malaidam Thuruth was not a new one, the government had an obligation to take the necessary measures in advance, anticipating the advocate commission’s proceedings on Wednesday. At the very least, the unnecessary use of police lathi charge should have been avoided. The fact that it was not prevented is clearly a failure on the part of the government; naturally, the opposition will turn it into a political controversy. However, it is reassuring that the government and the Home Department have begun to intervene after criticism intensified. Reports suggest that the government is trying to seek more time for the court proceedings. Even if that succeeds, it will only provide a temporary solution. New approaches must be found for a permanent resolution. In a sense, this can be described as the first major test the Satheesan government faces. There is only one lasting solution here: to provide those Dalit families with permanent land and homes of their own. However, when such a demand is raised, it is not limited to the needs of the Dalit families of Malaidam Thuruth. The land dispute at Malaidam Thuruth and the poor living conditions there are only one example of the wider hardships faced by tribal and Dalit communities across Kerala. According to figures released by the state government in 2025, nearly three lakh Dalit families in Kerala do not own land of their own. Around 6,000 tribal families, often referred to as the “children of the forest”, continue to live on 'Purampoke' (government-held) land. This remains the situation even after decades of schemes being launched to distribute land to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. As such, it is not only those eight families in Malaidam Thuruth who are living in fear of being pushed onto the streets. Therefore, what is essential is a comprehensive plan to declare land as a right for all tribal and Dalit families in the state and to secure their homesteads. The people who brought the new government to power are now watching closely to see what it can do in that direction.