Kerala HC suspends sentence of Geethanandan in Muthanga case

The Kerala High Court on Friday suspended the five-year rigorous imprisonment sentence of four convicts, including social activist M Geethanandan, in the 2003 Muthanga land struggle case. Justice A Badharudeen granted bail to Geethanandan, Binu, Sundaran, and Rameshan, who were convicted on July 31 by a sessions court in Kalpetta for the attempted murder of police officer Abdul Salam and forest officer Sasidharan during the agitation.

The Muthanga agitation was launched by Adivasi families under the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha after the government delayed distributing five acres of land to landless tribal families, promised in 2001. The protest turned violent on February 19, 2003, when police and the Forest Department evicted protesters occupying parts of the Muthanga reserve forest. Policeman KV Vinod and tribal protester Jogi died in the clash. The trial court had acquitted Geethanandan in Vinod's murder case, convicting only activist Ashokan, who died during the trial.

The High Court's order came on an appeal against the trial court verdict, which had sparked discussions over unresolved tribal land struggles. While hearing the appeal on August 6, Justice Badharudeen remarked the judgement would require thorough scrutiny.