Kochi: The properties of 248 persons linked to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) have been attached so far by the Revenue Department of the Kerala Government following a recent High Court ultimatum to hasten the procedures aimed at recovering the losses caused by wanton violence during its September 24 flash strike.
The attached lands and other properties belong to the office-bearers of the PFI and its allied organisations. Malappuram district tops in the number of attached properties — 126 in all. The figures for other districts are Palakkad 23; Kozhikode 22; Thrissur 18; Wayanad 11; Kannur 8; Kasaragod, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta 6 each; Alappuzha Thiruvananthapuram, and Kottayam 5 each; and Kollam with the least, 1.
The district-wise report on the Revenue Recovery proceedings which was prepared by D Saritha, the Additional Secretary of the Home Department, was handed over to the High Court by the State Attorney General N Manoj Kumar. The Division Bench of the High Court will take up the case for consideration today, Jan 24.
As reported earlier the attachment proceedings were carried out expeditiously under the leadership of Deputy Collectors (Revenue Recovery). A loss of Rs 5.2 crore was estimated during the hartal-day violence.
The Revenue authorities faced objections against the attachment of properties in some places, especially in Malappuram district, said the State authorities.
Those who objected claimed that they were not PFI office-bearers and that they had no links with the organisation. Their claims would be verified and necessary action would be taken in accordance with the law.
The High Court took action suo motu after the widespread violence during the flash hartal on September 23, 2022. The High Court directed the government that a report should be submitted to it after attaching the properties and that district-wise details should be included in it.
The Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Malayala Vedhi of Thrissur had impleaded themselves in the case. After the proceedings to pay compensation for the losses got delayed, the court had issued a warning to the government a few days ago.
