The gang brandishing pistols had threatened the locals and driven them out of their houses before the demolition. [break]
Seven houses and two buildings under construction were dismantled in the incident. Police have arrested two dozer drivers while a third is at large, according to DSP Rajkumar Baidawar.
Bikash Man Joshi, a local, said the locals had to wake up at midnight after the gang knocked all doors and threatened them. Joshi said they were astounded to see the masked gang toting pistols when they come out of their houses. “They fled the scene after we retaliated with sharp weapons,” Joshi informed.
The main reason behind the incident is learned to be an ownership row over land worth millions, alongside Nepalgunj Road, the main thoroughfare.
According to locals, the land was acquired by the government from Bir Bahadur Thapa in 2032 BS with due compensation, to built the highway. However, the four dhur of land mistakenly remained in his possession.
And some squatters started to live on the empty land. As time went by land prices sky-rocketed. Bir Bahadur´s son Thaneshwor Thapa started eyeing the land. Locals informed that there is also around two kathha of unclaimed land, and that is the bone of contention.
Thaneshwor devised various plans to bring the land into his ownership. At one time, he lodged a police report while another time he sought the help of political parties. Locals claim that after none of this worked, he hired hooligans to drive the squatters out from the land.
Police arrested a group out to evacuate the land, which said it was sent by notorious gangster Dipak Manage from Kathmandu.
Tulasi Neupane, a local, said she recently bought a hotel in the area for one million rupees after selling her land at Manigram.
“Business was going smoothly. Suddenly a dozer came at midnight and destroyed all my property,” she said.
Giri Prasad Aryal, who ran a grocery, said he lost over two million rupees in the demolition. Police are assessing the total loss incurred. Locals claim that it is over Rs 10 million.
Meanwhile, victims of the bulldozers disrupted vehicular movement, demanding action against the hooligans and their bosses as well as security and compensation for themselves. Chief District Officer Bal Krisha Panthi said that such hooliganism should be duly punished as otherwise it would invite lawlessness.
Police inform that investigations are underway. “The reality behind the incident will become clear within a few days,” said DSP Baidawar.
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