Iritty: Scheduled Tribes development Minister O.R Kelu sought a report into the case where  the Revenue Department issued notice asking a tribal family to pay a fine of Rs 14.66 lakhs in a 20-year-old case of poaching of teak by some unidentified people.  The action came after the news of the issue published by Mathrubhumi came to his notice. Kannur District Collector Arun K Vijayan handed over the report to the Land Revenue Commissioner by Tuesday evening.

K S Seetha of Sankarankandi tribal settlement at Thillankeri here received a notice from the revenue department directing to pay a fine of Rs 14,66,834. The District Legal Services Authority judge P Manjula also came across the news and sought a report from the Tehsildar. A message was sent to the Tehsildar asking him to provide an explanation by Tuesday evening. K Mohan, the District secretary of Tribal Welfare Committee said that the fine will be waived and that the matter will be brought to the attention of the Minister.

In 2003, one-acre land was allotted to Seetha by the Revenue Department at Keecheri in Mattannur. The title deed was issued with a stipulation not to cut trees on the land. Seetha and her daughter moved from their family home at Sankarankandi at Thillankeri and settled in the allotted land. Later, Seetha moved back to Sankarankandi after her daughter died.
Meanwhile, 24 stumps of teak trees were stolen from her land. The family had lodged a complaint with the police, but the plunderers were not caught. Years later, the family was issued a notice with a fine three times the value of the felled trees. Sita, who is ailing with cancer, has been running from pillar to post to pay the money.