Kerala - Kottayam   

STF adopting partisan stand: CPI

Staff Reporter

K.E. Ismail alleges attempt to tarnish the image of the party

KOTTAYAM: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has accused the Special Task Force (STF) entrusted with the operation against encroachments in Munnar of adopting a partisan attitude.

Talking to mediapersons after a review of the campaign at Munnar on Saturday, CPI assistant secretary K.E. Ismail and senior leader Pannian Ravindran, MP, said the campaign smacked of partiality towards a few big players. Terming the operations "ineffective," Mr. Ismail said the STF has been sent not to widen roads, but evict the big players. "It is not right to think that you can do anything once you are in a particular seat," said Mr. Ismail.

According to the CPI leaders, the action against the party office was an attempt to malign the image of the party by bracketing them along with encroachers. Beside, those behind the action wanted to create an impression that they were impartial. The land had title deeds from 1937 and the party had registered it in the name of M.N. Govindan Nair, the then secretary of the undivided Communist Party, in 1959. They also pointed out that the building was constructed before the road was turned part of the National Highway 49.

The CPI leaders, however, said they were fully committed to the success of the campaign against encroachments. The decision to desist from launching an agitation against the "highhandedness" of the STF in taking action against the party office was proof of this. "Had the party launched an agitation against the STF, it would have derailed the entire mission," said Mr. Pannian Ravindran.

Demolition begins

The STF on Saturday commenced the demolition of Claude Nine, a luxury resort operated by Autumn Woods Resorts, at the expiry of the time limit accorded by the Kerala High Court for removal of their possessions from the building.

The management was given three days respite earlier. On Friday, it was given another 24 hours for removing its possessions. The 1.15-ha plot, which houses 24 rooms in 10 cottages, started functioning in 2003.

The 1.15-ha land was under two title deeds and the STF had cancelled them invoking the provisions under the Cardamom Hill Reserves Act.

On Saturday, the STF team with five earth-movers, concrete cutters and other equipment and with a nearly 100-member labour force reached Chinnakanal, nearly 30 minutes ahead of the expiry of the time limit at 5 p.m.

At 5 p.m., the team sounded the horn thrice as a signal and drove into the premises. However, the buildings were empty, as the owners themselves had removed most of the possessions. STF special officer K. Suresh Kumar said the demolition work would continue into the night.

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