The open land at Sonpur VDC was seized by Maoist backed encroachers in the name of one “Freed Kamaiyas Struggle Committee” at a time when the Constitutional Assembly election took place. [break]
Most of the encroachers have built makeshift houses whereas a few have merely occupied their unused plots. An unauthorized settlement covering some 10 bighas had long been there before the encroachers flocked.
Before the seizure, the land adjoining a highway was a regular source of income for the campus which would lease it out to local peasants for as much as Rs 500,000 every year.
The fund was used to support unprivileged students´ education at the campus. “There is no way but to look for alternative sources to continue with the welfare,” said Principal Rajendra Shrestha.
The campus administration said it has not been able to utilize its own property owing to political reasons. “The parties themselves provoked it. It is not justifiable to seize the property of an educational institute,” said Shrestha.
“I think nobody lives in those shacks,” said Shrestha, indicating that the encroachment solely aims at occupying the land.
According to locals, most of those who have their shacks there own their own houses elsewhere. District in-charge of UCPN (Maoists) Nirmal Acharya, however, said the squatters are not seen there during daytime as they remain outside for work.
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