NEPALGUNJ, April 17: A recent investigation carried out by Nepal Police has revealed that land mafia were involved in transferring government land worth millions of rupees into private property in collusion with officials of the Land Revenue Office (LRO).

Hasan Ansari of Nepalgunj-3 was successful in transferring 5 kattha and 13 dhur land belonging to Sikta Irrigation Project worth millions in the name of his mother Hasartun Nisha Ansari. Similarly, Juned Ansari originally from Baharaich, India, and temporarily living in Nepalgunj, was also successful in transferring 5 kattha and 17 dhur of Sikta land in the name of his mother-in-law Lali Malla through forgery.

Khairul has also grabbed six bigha, three kattha and 14 dhur government land in Neulapur-7 of Bardiya in the name of his father. It has been found that these people started plotting to grab the land since the last two years.

"Khairul submitted an application on July 8 seeking a copy of land ownership certificate stating that he lost the original one. The application was registered on July 15," said one of the officials of the LRO, adding, "Based on fake record, the person was provided with a copy of land ownership certificate on July 16."

The same group had successfully grabbed 5 kattha and 17 dhur of land in Nepalgunj in July 2017. Land mafia Juned was killed in a dispute over land three months ago. As per the preliminary investigation of police, Juned and Khairul had collaborated with 14 officials of the LRO, Banke to grab the land.

According to police, then chief of LRO Dirgha Bahadur Pokharel, land revenue officials Ashok Bhattarai, Pushpa Shrestha and Hemraj Sharma, non-gazetted officers Ram Bahadur Khadka, Rudra Devkota, Tanka Sharma, Man Bahadur KC, Sushil Rijal, Sanjaya Thakur and Kulananda Rawat were also involved in the illegal transaction. Similarly, computer operator Yagyashwor Oli, asssitant computer operator Prem Chand Thakuri and office helper Antaram Chaudhary have also been accused in the case.

Prem Bahadur Daulyal, chief of LRO, Banke informed Republica that all 14 officials accused of being involved in irregularities are under police custody right now.

"Police have already arrested them and started investigation," said Daulyal, adding, "Day to day work at our office has been badly affected in absence of staffers."

Altogether 26 people are involved in this illegal work. DPO has already sought permission from the court to arrest these people. SP Arun Paudel of the DPO said 15 people have been arrested but others are still at large.

Caption: The land of Sikta Irrigation Project, which was illegally transferred by land mafia in collusion with the officials of the Land Revenue Office, Banke.

 
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