At Dang district headquarters Ghorahi, the Maoists have rented out a house belonging to the late Bharat Mani Sharma and are making Rs 40,000 annually. The three-storey house located at Dhorahi Bazar was captured in 2061 BS. The intruders take rent for eight shop shutters at the front of the house.[break]
The Maoists argue that they have not captured the property but are instead giving protection to the house.
The dispute arose in Dang after Maoist-affiliated farmers looted and captured some houses. Locals have complained that the Maoists have been using the captured properties as a source of income instead of returning them to their rightful owners.
Just four days back, the Maoists looted grain and clothing from a house in Hekuli VDC and announced capture of the house by erecting the party flag. Maoist in-charge of the VDC, Ajad, said that local farmers confiscated the property since they could no longer tolerate landlordism. Police had arrested seven Maoist activists on a robbery charge after they captured the house of Shyamesh Chaudhary. But the Maoists are pressuring the police to release the men.
Local Maoist cadres are also distributing amongst themselves produce from the captured lands. The landlords are demanding their share of the crops. Maoist district secretary Subash Pun has, however, claimed that all confiscated property in the district has already been returned.
Some local Maoist leaders also claimed that since the nature of the dispute with some farmers is “serious,” the properties have not been returned. Although the Maoists have announced that they have returned the property of 15 people in the district, the decision has not yet been implemented.
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