Tension in rubber estate over eviction attempt

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is in a bind over a court order directing it to evict settlers from a private plantation after the squatters threatened "mass suicide" if they are thrown out.

The Kerala High Court has asked the authorities to evict thousands of settlers on the Harrison estate in Chengara in Pathanamthitta district.

However, tension prevailed in the area on Monday when some men climbed on rubber trees in the estate and threatened to hang themselves if they were forced out, while women and children held cans of kerosene and matchboxes threatening self-immolation.

Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran has reiterated the government's commitment to providing land to the landless, but those staging a sit-in at the estate have not been impressed.

The court direction is to evict the settlers without use of force.

There are allegations that the at least some of the squatters are land grabbers who have property elsewhere.

The occupants of the estate have been on an agitation for over 200 days and having caught the media limelight, seem to be in no mood to vacate the premises. Some are demanding two hectares of land and cash for rehabilitation.