Muthanga eviction was deliberate attempt to suppress Adivasi activism

Geethanandan has alleged that the eviction of Adivasi families from Muthanga wildlife sanctuary in Wayanad district was not merely an enforcement of conservation laws, but a deliberate strategy to weaken organized Adivasi activism in Kerala. The 2003 operation, which displaced hundreds of indigenous residents who had occupied the sanctuary to assert land rights, has remained contentious among social activists and indigenous rights groups.

The commentary comes amid renewed discussions about historical injustices faced by Adivasi communities in the state. Supporters of this interpretation argue that the eviction served to dismantle one of the most visible and organized demonstrations of Adivasi assertion in recent memory, occurring during a period of heightened mobilization around indigenous land claims across southern India.

Kerala's government had justified the eviction as necessary to protect the sanctuary's ecological integrity and wildlife habitat. However, indigenous rights advocates have consistently contested this narrative, contending that Adivasi communities have historically been custodians of forest ecosystems and that their displacement represents a prioritization of conservation interests over indigenous land rights.

The Muthanga incident remains a significant reference point in discussions about the intersection of environmental protection and Adivasi welfare in India, with interpretations of the event often reflecting broader ideological positions on indigenous rights, land reform, and the role of the state in adjudicating competing claims over forest resources.