Church condemns forest dept's actions in Thommankuthu
Kochi: The Syro-Malabar Church issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the forest department's alleged high-handedness and encroachments on private land in Thommankuthu,
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Church expressed grave concern over what it described as an unprecedented level of anti-people behaviour by forest department.
The controversy stems from an incident on April 12, when forest officials allegedly demolished a cross erected on private land in Naranganam. According to Syro-Malabar Church, this was done despite a report from Thodupuzha Tahsildar stating that the cross was outside forest boundaries.
According to Church's statement, issued in response to ongoing tensions, forest officers have been visiting the homes of locals who legally own the land under revenue records and issuing them notices demanding they appear before range officers within 15 days. Church condemned this as harassment of innocent citizens living on legally acquired land.
"The demolition of the cross itself was a violation and now, instead of rectifying their actions, the forest officials are targeting those associated with it," the statement read.
It questioned whether the issue is being ignored by state govt because it involves Christian symbols and community members, and accused the forest department of operating without accountability.
The statement also pointed to the broader context of public protests, including a farmers' rally organized by All India Kisan Sabha, a CPIM-affiliated body, which recently laid siege to the forest department headquarters.
Calling the current scenario 'a form of state-sponsored terror', Church demanded immediate govt intervention. It urged Kerala's civil society to stand in solidarity with the people of Thommankuthu.
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