Munambam residents form human chain demanding restoration of revenue rights

Residents of Munambam demand restoration of revenue rights, forming a human chain to protest land issues.

Hundreds of residents of Munambam, under the aegis of Kottappuram and Varapuzha dioceses, formed a human chain along the Vypeen-Munambam State Highway on Sunday (January 5) demanding the restoration of revenue rights of their holdings.

The land issue in Munambam had snowballed into a major socio-political controversy with the residents coming out to the streets in protest against the decision of the Kerala Waqf Board to enlist the nearly 400-acre holding as Waqf and registering the land as a Waqf property. Litigations are pending at the Kerala High Court and the Kerala Waqf Tribunal on various aspects of the issue.

The State government has appointed a judicial commission to look into the issue and suggest ways to support the interests of the residents in the area. However, two organisations campaigning for the restoration of Waqf holdings have demanded steps for restoring the land allegedly illegally alienated by Farook College, Kozhikode.

Inaugurating the protest, Bishop Ambros Puthenveettil said the campaign was against the injustice meted out to the residents.

The human chain symbolises the commitment of people to the poor and the oppressed. Those who took part in the campaign displayed their commitment to fight for the poor and to secure them justice, he said.

Jiju Arakkathara, general secretary of Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council, Fr. Antony Xavier Tharayil, Vicar General of Kottappuram Rocky Roby Kalathil and Land Protection Council chairperson Joseph Rocky spoke.

The relay hunger strike taken out by the protesters entered its 85th day on Sunday.