After more than two decades of legal battles, KK Surendran, a victim of custodial torture in Muthanga of Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad, has received a court verdict ordering the Kerala government to pay him Rs 12.5 lakh in compensation. 

The legal battle spanning 22 years stemmed from a false case filed by the Kerala police in connection with the Muthanga agitation. Surendran was tortured in custody, the physical effects of which he continues to suffer even now, including partial hearing loss. 

The Muthanga agitation was a land occupation struggle led by the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha at the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad in February 2003.

Surendran was arrested by the police for allegedly supporting the protestors and was labelled a left-wing extremist. “The police alleged that I trained the Adivasis to use arms while they were protesting for land. I had no connection to the agitation,” he said.

Later, a CBI inquiry resulted in his release from jail. 

However, the physical injuries and trauma he suffered due to custodial torture at the Sulthan Bathery police station remained in his memory. This prompted him to file a petition in court seeking compensation. 

Although he received a favourable court order in 2021, the then-government, led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), appealed against it. 

After about five years, he obtained another favourable judgement on March 16 this year.

Surendran, a Dalit man and a retired faculty member at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), met with Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on July 9, who assured him that the state would not appeal the decision and would proceed with the compensation payment.

During the Muthanga struggle, agitating Adivasis occupied forest land to protest broken government promises regarding land distribution. Over 600 tribal families........

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