Kerala
,
Ayyankunnu
,
Kannur
Published :
Oct 2025
|
Updated :
Territorial ambiguities and local resistance: The Kerala–Karnataka border dispute in Ayyankunnu
Reported by
Afeef Abdul Kader
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Amrita Chekkutty
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
20
Households affected
96
People affected
2019
Year started
6.07
ha.
Land area affected
20
Households affected
96
People Affected
2019
Year started
6.07
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Border Dispute
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Unclassifed
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Border Dispute
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

At least 20 families in Ayyankunnu panchayat of Kannur district live in constant fear of eviction amid a long pending border dispute between Kerala and Karnataka. The Karnataka Forest Department has laid claim to an area traditionally inhabited by Kerala residents, leading to escalating tensions and a sense of fear among those living in the disputed zone near Barapola river.

Locals say that there were about 40 families living in the area, all of them having settled many decades ago. But over the years, many of them vacated the place as they were being pressurised by the Karnataka Forest Department, leaving just 20 families living there. They claim that Karnataka had previously attempted to encroach upon 15 acres along the Barapola river by allegedly displacing survey stones placed during state re-determination challenging the demarcated boundary.

In 2019, tensions escalated when the Karnataka Forest Department in Koottupuzha arrested a couple back for cutting a few trees in their compound for renovating their house. While the Karnataka Forest Department states that the disputed area belongs to them, Kerala claims that it is the state’s "poramboke" land that hasn’t been assigned to anybody.

In 2023, a protest led by Janakeeya Samithi escalated against Karnataka's move to acquire 15 acres of agricultural land from seven families in Barapola situated on the Kerala-Karnataka border. The disputed area, part of Palathumkadavu in the second ward of Ayyankunnu panchayat, has been a longstanding territory of Kerala inhabited by families for over six decades.

Recent tensions arose when Karnataka's Makkoottam Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary forest guards halted a local resident, Vishwanathan, from commencing house renovation, removing cultivated tapioca and disputing ownership of one acre of land possessing title deeds. Until 2022, he paid his taxes for this land in Ayyankunnu village. Although seven families claim ownership, only three reside on the disputed land as on December 2023.

In December 2024, a delegation from the Kerala Revenue Department, headed by Payyannur Tehsildar T Manoharan, also visited the disputed site. The Tehsildar assured the local residents that joint inspection measures will be initiated by both groups as soon.

Ayuankunnu panchayat president Kuriachan Paimpallikunnel said that the Kannur District Collector also expressed intentions to engage with the Coorg District Collector in pursuit of a resolution. He added that discussions are expected between Makkoottam Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and the District Forest Officer (DFO) to address the escalating conflict.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common and Private

Forest and Non-Forest

What was the action taken by the police?

Arrest

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

2

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area, Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Karnataka Forest Department; Kerala Revenue Department

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Janakeeya Samiti

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

Arrest

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

2

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Afeef Abdul Kader
Law graduate with experience in litigation across civil, criminal, arbitration, human rights and constitutional matters, combined with academic and research expertise in international law and human rights.
Show more work
Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area, Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

JOIN
THE LCW COMMUNITY
Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


Support our work.
Sign Up Today
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