League Member Accused of Grabbing Land Bought for Kavalappara Disaster Victims; Protests Intensify

Edakkara: A major controversy has erupted in Pothukallu panchayat after it was revealed that land purchased by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) for the rehabilitation of Kavalappara disaster victims was allegedly grabbed by a League ward member.

The land, located at Velumpiyampadam in Pothukallu, had been bought by the IUML for housing families affected by the 2019 Kavalappara landslide tragedy. However, it has now come to light that ward member Saloop Jaleel registered 25 cents of this land in his wife’s name. He has also begun banana cultivation on the disputed property.

Saloop Jaleel seen cultivating bananas on land originally purchased for Kavalappara disaster victimsSaloop is not a disaster victim, and he already owns a house and land elsewhere. His explanation is that out of the 75 cents of land bought at Velumpiyampadam, 25 cents were separately purchased in his wife’s name for commercial purposes. But the League had earlier claimed that the entire 75 cents was acquired exclusively for rehabilitation of victims.

The land was meant to provide plots to 12 families. Instead, seven IUML sympathisers, none of them disaster victims, were given five cents each. Two among them had already received houses under the state government’s LIFE Mission scheme. The remaining five beneficiaries were given land that was reportedly unsuitable for construction.

The issue surfaced after local media reports and protests, including from League supporters, exposed the land registration in Saloop’s wife’s name. Widespread outrage on social media, even from within the Muslim League, eventually forced Saloop to admit to the land grab.

The development has triggered widespread outrage, with critics pointing out that the IUML had raised substantial funds in the name of Kavalappara victims through KMCC (Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre) campaigns abroad. Allegations of misuse of these funds are also being raised in connection with the land deal.