Muthanga struggle: Kerala HC suspends sentence of Geethanandan, 3 others
The Kerala High Court on Friday, August 21, suspended the sentence of four, including social activist M Geethanandan, in the Muthanga land struggle case of 2003. Justice A Badharudeen also granted bail to the four convicts who were awarded five years rigorous imprisonment by a trial court on July 31 in connection with an attempted murder of two government officers during the agitation. The order came on the appeal filed by Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha founder Geethanandan and other three convicts Binu, Sundaran, and Rameshan. The sessions court, Kalpetta had found the four guilty of abduction and attempts to murder police officer Abdul Salam and forest officer Sasidharan during the Muthanga agitation. The trial court verdict had triggered discussions over tribal communities’ unresolved struggles for land. While hearing the appeal on August 6, Justice Badharudeen had remarked that the judgement would require “thorough scrutiny”. The Muthanga tribal agitation was launched by Adivasi families under the banner of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha after the government delayed the distribution of five acres of land for landless tribal families, which it had promised in 2001. The agitation was led by Geethanandan and tribal leader CK Janu. It turned violent on February 19, 2003 when police and the Forest Department launched a joint operation to evict the protesters who had occupied parts of the Muthanga reserve forest in an attempt to claim the land promised to them. In the ensuing clash, policeman KV Vinod and tribal protester Jogi died while multiple persons suffered injuries. The trial court had let off the accused, including Geethanandan, in the Vinod murder case. It found only one tribal activist - Ashokan - guilty of Vinod’s murder. However, Ashokan had passed away during the trial.
THE Kerala High Court on Friday, August 21, suspended the sentence of four, including social activist M Geethanandan, in the Muthanga land struggle case of 2003.
Justice A Badharudeen also granted bail to the four convicts who were awarded five years' rigorous imprisonment by a trial court on July 31 in connection with an attempted murder of two government officers during the agitation.
The order came on the appeal filed by Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha founder Geethanandan and the other three convicts, Binu, Sundaran, and Rameshan. The Sessions Court, Kalpetta, had found the four guilty of abduction and attempts to murder police officer Abdul Salam and forest officer Sasidharan during the Muthanga agitation.
The trial court verdict had triggered discussions over tribal communities’ unresolved struggles for land.
While hearing the appeal on August 6, Justice Badharudeen had remarked that the judgement would require “thorough scrutiny”.
The Muthanga tribal agitation was launched by Adivasi families under the banner of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha after the government delayed the distribution of five acres of land for landless tribal families, which it had promised in 2001.
The agitation was led by Geethanandan and tribal leader CK Janu. It turned violent on February 19, 2003, when police and the Forest Department launched a joint operation to evict the protesters who had occupied parts of the Muthanga reserve forest in an attempt to claim the land promised to them. In the ensuing clash, policeman KV Vinod and tribal protester Jogi died while multiple persons suffered injuries.
The trial court had let off the accused, including Geethanandan, in the Vinod murder case. It found only one tribal activist, Ashokan, guilty of Vinod’s murder. However, Ashokan had passed away during the trial.
