Collector's stop memo ends 17-day tribal hunger strike against Kannur quarry

Residents of the Scheduled Tribe settlement at Thoppilayi near Kakkanpara in Sreekandapuram municipality, Kannur, have suspended their 17-day protest against a laterite quarry after the District Collector issued a temporary stop memo halting quarrying operations.

The protest committee convenor, P. Bindu, who had been on a fast for nine days, and Uru Mooppan P. Aneesh, who continued the fast for three days, ended their hunger strike on Sunday. The decision came after the Taliparamba Tahsildar visited the protest venue and read out the Collector's order.

The protest committee had alleged that a private individual purchased land originally allotted to landless families for house construction under a surplus land scheme and obtained permission for laterite mining using fabricated documents. Residents of the tribal settlement said quarrying on the ecologically sensitive laterite hill posed a serious threat to around 50 Scheduled Tribe families living nearby. They also expressed concern that their cremation ground, community building, and drinking water tank, located close to the quarry site, could be endangered.

The quarry owners had resumed mining under police protection after securing a favourable order from the High Court. In response, the protest committee launched a relay hunger strike 13 days ago, with five people participating in different phases. Earlier, P. Chandran and M. Remeshan, who undertook the initial phase, were hospitalised after their health deteriorated. They were succeeded by P. Bindu and E. Shyamala. Ms. Shyamala was also admitted to hospital three days ago, following which P. Aneesh continued the fast.

District Collector P. Vishnuraj issued the temporary stop memo after inquiries by the Department of Mining and Geology and other departments, following petitions submitted by the protest committee to the Collector and other authorities challenging the quarry permit. The inquiry reportedly found that a public road lies within a 50-metre radius of the quarry, prompting the temporary suspension of mining.

Residents said attempts to start the laterite quarry had been made since 2023 but were abandoned following public opposition. After obtaining a favourable High Court order, the owners resumed quarrying, triggering protests by the tribal settlement.

The Taliparamba Revenue Divisional Officer and the Tahsildar had earlier held discussions with the protesters and assured them that action would be taken against the quarry. On Sunday afternoon, the Tahsildar reached the protest venue and read out the District Collector's stop memo, after which the protest committee decided to suspend the agitation.

The protest committee said a public meeting would be held at the protest venue at 11 a.m. on Monday to decide the future course of the agitation.