Muthanga: Pain, agony of a misplaced wrestle

Express News Service

SULTAN BATHERY:  The wind blows via the bamboo thickets of Muthanga buzzing a melancholic tune. Scent of blood, screams of innocents nonetheless linger within the air. The rainbow that seems within the morning mist ignites hopes, however the thunder showers deliver again reminiscences of a misplaced agitation that led to bloodshed. The memorial of tribal chief Jogi stands alone carrying reminiscences of a forgotten wrestle.

Twenty years! The ache and agony of the police motion, to evict round 800 tribal households who occupied the plantations of Muthanga demanding land and livelihood, refuse to fade. A police constable and a tribal chief died within the conflict. Many, together with girls and kids sustained grievous accidents. The dream was left unaccomplished.

After a collection of protests, the UDF authorities led by A Okay Antony had reached an settlement with the Adivasi Gotra Maha Sabha (AGMS) in October 2001 to distribute 1 to five acres of cultivable land to all tribal households. The authorities then recognized 52,000 landless tribal households. The Union authorities had earmarked 19,000 acres of land for distribution amongst tribals. However, the federal government went again on its promise, prompting the AGMS to forcefully occupy the plantations of Muthanga to press their demand.

On January 5, 2003, the AGMS led by chairperson C Okay Janu and M Geeethanandan led a gaggle of 800 tribal households to Muthanga forest underneath Noolpuzha panchayat. They occupied the forest at Thakarapady, Ambukutti and Ponkuzhi (Koundanvayal) and erected lots of of thatched huts, and a checkpost, limiting the entry of public and forest officers. A wildfire broke out within the space on February 17, and forest personnel reached the spot to douse the blaze. But they had been detained by the agitators, who launched them solely the subsequent day following the intervention of the district collector.

At round 8am on February 19, police began evicting the protesters. The protesters took two individuals, police constable Okay V Vinod and forester P Okay Sasidharan, hostage and tortured them. While Vinod was hacked to loss of life, Sasidharan was rescued in police motion with grievous accidents. Tribal chief Jogi, who stabbed Sasidharan and tried to set hearth to the camp wherein the hostages had been held, was shot useless by the police.

The anguish of the failed rebellion mirrored within the eyes of Chandran, a septuagenarian of Karyampadi tribal colony in Sultan Bathery, as he recounts the incident. “We were living peacefully in the forests. The settlers encroached our lands and the government gave them title deeds. We lost our land and livelihood…We never resorted to violence. It was all peacefull till the forest officers set the huts on fire.” 

“The Muthanga agitation was not violent. It was the police and forest staff who unleashed violence on us. We only tried to save our people,” stated Babu of Karyampadi, the twelfth accused within the CBI case.
However, Sasidharan, the forester who was taken hostage,  has a distinct story to inform. “On February 18, Geethanandan was accountable for Thakarapady camp. The protesters set the forest on hearth. On receiving data, a crew of 9 forest officers proceeded to douse the fireplace.

The forest guards had been taken hostage and tied to timber,” he stated. “I was a forester at Tholpetty forest station. We got a wireless message to proceed to Muthanga on February 18. A huge posse of police was deployed and we started for Thakarapady on February 19 morning. We were instructed to demolish the hutments without using force. They had set up a checkpost and kept beehives to stop the police,” stated Sasidharan. “The protesters were waiting with bows and arrows atop trees. As we reached the huts a group charged at us with axes and knives. They hacked a policeman. They set the dried elephant grass on fire and we were dousing the fire. Suddenly a group of protesters started chasing women constables. The police fired in the air and threw grenades to scare them. People started running helter-skelter. The members of my team had retreated, and I landed in front of a violent group,” stated Sasidharan.

“A youth charged at me with an axe and I pleaded with him. Then Geethanandan appeared and told his men to take me captive. I felt a sharp weapon piercing my back. I collapsed, and they pushed me into the hut where I found an injured policeman. It was Vinod who later died. Hours passed by and I had difficulty in breathing as the weapon had pierced my lungs,” he stated.

“Geethanandan took my gold chain, and removed one of the gold rings on my finger. He tried to take the second ring, but it wouldn’t budge. He pulled out a knife to cut my finger. Luckily they got information that the police had surrounded the area. Geethanandan placed the knife on my neck and threatened to kill me unless the police pulled back. I waved at the police pleading not to advance. The agitators poured kerosene on dried elephant grass that surrounded the hut and threatened to set us on fire. Ashokan, one of the leaders, was bargaining with the police. Jogi, another leader, was holding a torch. I was losing hope,” Sasidharan’s voice choked as he recounted the incident.

“Suddenly a gun was fired and I saw Jogi collapsing. The commandos led by KAP Commandant Suresh Raj Purohit stormed the hut. While escaping one of the protesters hacked Vinod on the  head. I fell unconscious as the police took me to the ambulance on a stretcher. It took three months for me to recover. I was transferred to Kozhikode where I retired from service as deputy ranger in 2006. The department didn’t even give me a good service entry,” he stated.

Refuting the allegation of violence, Janu stated it was the forest employees and police who unleashed violence. “From 1989 we have been involved in a land struggle. We occupy the land, the police arrest us and send us to jail. I was arrested thrice. On February 17, 2003, the forest staff dipped dried elephant dung in petrol, lit it and threw it on hutments. These incidents took place at Thakarapady, and I was at Ambukutti. Our people caught hold of them and were planning to hand them over to the collector. But without reaching out to us, they brought a huge posse of police and unleashed violence,” she stated.

“On February 19, the police and forest staff started forcefully evicting us. They were setting huts on fire. We had kept a hut for babysitting which was set on fire by the police. Our  men ran to the spot to save the children, but the police lathi charged and opened fire. We were all running for our lives. We have no role in the death of Vinod. The police wanted a martyr and they might have done something. Our leader Jogi was shot dead and there was no inquiry. We have a law to punish people who kill dogs, but there is no value for the life of an Adivasi,” stated Janu.

“Around 600 Adivasis were were put in jail for three months. Though I was not involved in the murder of Vinod, the police arrested me on February 21, and tortured me alleging I had killed him,” she stated.

(To be continued)

SULTAN BATHERY:  The wind blows via the bamboo thickets of Muthanga buzzing a melancholic tune. Scent of blood, screams of innocents nonetheless linger within the air. The rainbow that seems within the morning mist ignites hopes, however the thunder showers deliver again reminiscences of a misplaced agitation that led to bloodshed. The memorial of tribal chief Jogi stands alone carrying reminiscences of a forgotten wrestle.

Twenty years! The ache and agony of the police motion, to evict round 800 tribal households who occupied the plantations of Muthanga demanding land and livelihood, refuse to fade. A police constable and a tribal chief died within the conflict. Many, together with girls and kids sustained grievous accidents. The dream was left unaccomplished.

After a collection of protests, the UDF authorities led by A Okay Antony had reached an settlement with the Adivasi Gotra Maha Sabha (AGMS) in October 2001 to distribute 1 to five acres of cultivable land to all tribal households. The authorities then recognized 52,000 landless tribal households. The Union authorities had earmarked 19,000 acres of land for distribution amongst tribals. However, the federal government went again on its promise, prompting the AGMS to forcefully occupy the plantations of Muthanga to press their demand.

On January 5, 2003, the AGMS led by chairperson C Okay Janu and M Geeethanandan led a gaggle of 800 tribal households to Muthanga forest underneath Noolpuzha panchayat. They occupied the forest at Thakarapady, Ambukutti and Ponkuzhi (Koundanvayal) and erected lots of of thatched huts, and a checkpost, limiting the entry of public and forest officers. A wildfire broke out within the space on February 17, and forest personnel reached the spot to douse the blaze. But they had been detained by the agitators, who launched them solely the subsequent day following the intervention of the district collector.

At round 8am on February 19, police began evicting the protesters. The protesters took two individuals, police constable Okay V Vinod and forester P Okay Sasidharan, hostage and tortured them. While Vinod was hacked to loss of life, Sasidharan was rescued in police motion with grievous accidents. Tribal chief Jogi, who stabbed Sasidharan and tried to set hearth to the camp wherein the hostages had been held, was shot useless by the police.

The anguish of the failed rebellion mirrored within the eyes of Chandran, a septuagenarian of Karyampadi tribal colony in Sultan Bathery, as he recounts the incident. “We were living peacefully in the forests. The settlers encroached our lands and the government gave them title deeds. We lost our land and livelihood…We never resorted to violence. It was all peacefull till the forest officers set the huts on fire.” 

“The Muthanga agitation was not violent. It was the police and forest staff who unleashed violence on us. We only tried to save our people,” stated Babu of Karyampadi, the twelfth accused within the CBI case.
However, Sasidharan, the forester who was taken hostage,  has a distinct story to inform. “On February 18, Geethanandan was accountable for Thakarapady camp. The protesters set the forest on hearth. On receiving data, a crew of 9 forest officers proceeded to douse the fireplace.

The forest guards had been taken hostage and tied to timber,” he stated. “I was a forester at Tholpetty forest station. We got a wireless message to proceed to Muthanga on February 18. A huge posse of police was deployed and we started for Thakarapady on February 19 morning. We were instructed to demolish the hutments without using force. They had set up a checkpost and kept beehives to stop the police,” stated Sasidharan. “The protesters were waiting with bows and arrows atop trees. As we reached the huts a group charged at us with axes and knives. They hacked a policeman. They set the dried elephant grass on fire and we were dousing the fire. Suddenly a group of protesters started chasing women constables. The police fired in the air and threw grenades to scare them. People started running helter-skelter. The members of my team had retreated, and I landed in front of a violent group,” stated Sasidharan.

“A youth charged at me with an axe and I pleaded with him. Then Geethanandan appeared and told his men to take me captive. I felt a sharp weapon piercing my back. I collapsed, and they pushed me into the hut where I found an injured policeman. It was Vinod who later died. Hours passed by and I had difficulty in breathing as the weapon had pierced my lungs,” he stated.

“Geethanandan took my gold chain, and removed one of the gold rings on my finger. He tried to take the second ring, but it wouldn’t budge. He pulled out a knife to cut my finger. Luckily they got information that the police had surrounded the area. Geethanandan placed the knife on my neck and threatened to kill me unless the police pulled back. I waved at the police pleading not to advance. The agitators poured kerosene on dried elephant grass that surrounded the hut and threatened to set us on fire. Ashokan, one of the leaders, was bargaining with the police. Jogi, another leader, was holding a torch. I was losing hope,” Sasidharan’s voice choked as he recounted the incident.

“Suddenly a gun was fired and I saw Jogi collapsing. The commandos led by KAP Commandant Suresh Raj Purohit stormed the hut. While escaping one of the protesters hacked Vinod on the  head. I fell unconscious as the police took me to the ambulance on a stretcher. It took three months for me to recover. I was transferred to Kozhikode where I retired from service as deputy ranger in 2006. The department didn’t even give me a good service entry,” he stated.

Refuting the allegation of violence, Janu stated it was the forest employees and police who unleashed violence. “From 1989 we have been involved in a land struggle. We occupy the land, the police arrest us and send us to jail. I was arrested thrice. On February 17, 2003, the forest staff dipped dried elephant dung in petrol, lit it and threw it on hutments. These incidents took place at Thakarapady, and I was at Ambukutti. Our people caught hold of them and were planning to hand them over to the collector. But without reaching out to us, they brought a huge posse of police and unleashed violence,” she stated.

“On February 19, the police and forest staff started forcefully evicting us. They were setting huts on fire. We had kept a hut for babysitting which was set on fire by the police. Our  men ran to the spot to save the children, but the police lathi charged and opened fire. We were all running for our lives. We have no role in the death of Vinod. The police wanted a martyr and they might have done something. Our leader Jogi was shot dead and there was no inquiry. We have a law to punish people who kill dogs, but there is no value for the life of an Adivasi,” stated Janu.

“Around 600 Adivasis were were put in jail for three months. Though I was not involved in the murder of Vinod, the police arrested me on February 21, and tortured me alleging I had killed him,” she stated.

(To be continued)