CPI (ML) faction encroaches land in Wayanad

A CPI (ML) faction forcibly occupied parts of the Harrison Malayalam Plantations land here Saturday adding a new dimension to the issue of encroachment of private land in Wayanad district.

CPI (ML) faction leader K N Ramachandran accused CPI (M) led LDF Government of showing 'laxity' in addressing issues faced by landless tribals.

CPI (ML) had lost trust in ruling CPI-M and opposition Congress as these parties were not sincere in their efforts to address the issues of tribals, he told reporters.

The activists forcibly occupied plantation land at Mundakai Saturday morning and began erecting huts. As many as nine huts were erected on the encroached land.

Additional forces were deployed in the locality, police said.
A senior police official here was holding talks with CPI (ML) leaders to get activists to vacate the encroached land.

Last week, pro CPI-M outfits had encroached land held by the HMPL and Shreyams Kumar, MLA, and George Pothan, leaders of the M P Veerendra Kumar led JD (S) faction, which had joined UDF headed by Congress after the Lok Sabha elections following differences with CPIM-led LDF over seat allotment. Opposition party men termed the "sudden" moves as a ploy by CPI-M to humble its political rivals.