After 414 days, Munambam land protest to pause temporarily; Minister P Rajeev to meet protesters

Kochi: The long‑running land protest at Munambam is set to be temporarily called off this Sunday, the 414th day of the agitation, following a decision by the protest’s organising committee. The move comes after authorities granted permission to the state government to accept land tax from residents which was the key demand of the protesters.

The office‑bearers of the Land Protection Committee announced after a core‑committee meeting on Friday that the protest will end on Sunday, citing the permission to pay land tax as the principal reason. The group said that authorities had offered assurances that there would be no obstacles to land mutation, and that a help desk will be opened at Kuzhuppilly village to assist residents with the process.

The decision to halt the hunger strike was also based on these assurances, the Committee said.

Minister of law P Rajeev and Vypin MLA K N Unnikrishnan,  among others, are scheduled to arrive at the protest site at 2:30 pm on Sunday, where the protest will formally end. According to the plan, the closure ceremony will include the symbolic act of serving lemon juice to the protesters.