Baidya and Bhattarai factions have opposed the decision by party establishment to return 107 bighas of land captured in Bhelhi, Amardaha-8, about 10 years ago.[break]
Maoists´ Morang In-charge Shiva Kumar Mandal had reportedly asked the squatters, who were using 24 bigha land of one Devki Pradhan, to vacate the land but Baidya and Bhattarai factions have been insisting that the land has not been released.
Pradhan was returned his 24 bigha land by the Maoists two years ago but around a dozen squatter families have yet to return the land. Pradhan has taken the help of police to take control of his land which is valued at around Rs 24 million.
Meanwhile, Maoist Morang Secretary Kushal Limbu, from Baidya faction, claimed the land was still in the Maoists´ possession. “The land cannot be released merely on the whims of the in-charge without a decision in the party meeting,” Limbu said. Limbu also accused the leadership of remaining silent on the issue of Pradhan´s land and another 25 bighas of one Dilip Dhadewal while he raised the issue in district and state committee meetings.
“The decision to release the land has been in accordance with the party´s decision to not capture any land,” Mandal argued and accused others of trying to bring factionalism into the matter. Limbu, on his part, argued that Pradhan mustered courage to forcibly evacuate squatters with the support of the party establishment.
Maoist combatant Prati Bahadur Limbu, who has been tilling Pradhan´s land, is also confused due to the wrangling. “We have been confused by the conflicting stances but we won´t leave the land,” Prati Bahadur stated.
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