As per media reports, huts belonging to three tribal families were demolished by forest department officials at the Kollimoola tribal settlement in Begur in Wayanad district, Kerala. This incident took place within the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) on 24 November 2024.
The families of Lakshmi, Anilkumar, and Meenakshi, who have lived on the forest land for over 16 years, were directly affected by this unlawful eviction. The forest officials justified the demolition as part of an operation to evacuate settlements situated in the elephant corridors adjacent to the sanctuary. However, the eviction was carried out without prior notice, and without adhering to the established legal processes under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which grants tribal communities the right to reside on forest land.
The three families, including a newborn and schoolchildren, were forced to spend the night in the jungle after their huts were destroyed. This action is inhuman and constitutes a gross violation of human rights. Further, the wrongful dispossession of tribal people from their land, or interference with their rights under the Forest Rights Act, constitutes an offence under Section 3(1)(g) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.