MUNAMBAM: The Waqf Board has come under mounting criticism for its actions regarding the land dispute at Munambam Beach, as protests by local communities continue to gain momentum. The Board’s recent enquiries into the status of government land in the area have sparked fears among the local fishermen, who accuse the Board of pushing them into a deeper crisis. The Board’s lawyer is reportedly investigating whether any encroachments have taken place, with the intention of portraying the Munambam people as lawbreakers who have grabbed not only Waqf land but also government property.
As part of the inquiry, Waqf representatives visited Munambam and interacted with local residents using official land plans. This has led to significant unrest among the fishermen, many of whom have lived on the land for several decades.
Protests and Public Outcry
Several organisations have come forward in protest, demanding clarity over how land previously allocated to Farooq College in 1950 came under the Waqf Board’s jurisdiction in 2022. The local unit of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, a community organization representing the OBC Ezhava community in Kerala, has called for a detailed government inquiry into the matter. The SNDP has planned a meeting on October 12 to express their solidarity with the Munambam people, who now face the threat of eviction from land they have legally inhabited and paid taxes on since 1989.
Allegations of Conspiracy
The Bharatiya Malsya Pravarthaka Sangham, a Sangh-affiliated fishermen’s organization, has accused the Waqf Board of engaging in a larger conspiracy to seize the land from the local fishermen community. Sangham representatives claim that two civil cases between Farooq College and the Munambam residents were previously settled out of court, granting the fishermen rights to the land. P. Peetambaran, state president of the Bharatiya Malsya Pravarthaka Sangham, has demanded that the state government clarify how the Waqf Board could claim ownership of the land, urging both the central and state governments to intervene in light of the severity of the situation.
Peetambaran, along with other Sangh leaders, met with Fr. Antony Xavier, the Vicar of the local parish church, and several fishermen families to express their support. They have urged the government to take swift action against what they believe is an unjust attempt by the Waqf Board to seize the land.
Hindu Aikya Vedi’s Stand
Hindu Aikya Vedi, another organization with ties to the Sangh, has also come out strongly against the Waqf Board’s actions. The group has alleged that the Board is attempting to evict 610 fishermen families from their homes in Cherai. These families, who have been paying land taxes for the past 35 years, now face the threat of displacement. Hindu Aikya Vedi has called for a nationwide amendment to the Waqf Act, stating that the current law enables the Board to unfairly target vulnerable communities. The organization plans to launch a series of agitations against the Waqf Board’s “brutal” approach to the issue.
