Hundreds of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel reached the forest to destroy the illegal constructions. Police destroyed the huts by setting fire to them. [break]
Unlike on Friday, police did not face any retaliation from the squatters as most of them had left the forest.
Kailai District Police Office Chief Uttam Singh said a large number policemen from Surkhet, Nepalgunj, Dipayal and Mahendranagar were brought to Kailali to remove the squatters.
The squatters had built nearly 10,000 huts in the forest.
Maoist banda on Sunday
KATHMANDU, Dec 5: To protest the killing of landless persons in a police firing at Dudejhari of Kailali on Friday, the UCPN (Maoist) has announced a nationwide shutdown on Sunday.
“Settling the landless people in the forest is not our plan. There is no involvement of our party, but we support these people,” said Maoist Standing Committee member Netra Bikram Chand, who is also the general secretary of the Maoists´ United National People´s Movement, Nepal. Chand argued that landless people, too, enjoy inalienable right to settlement.
The Maoists also alleged that the police opened fire on the squatters upon the direct order of Home Minister Bhim Rawal, and demanded action against him. Maoists also claimed they had not encroached upon the forest land and the government allegation of the land encroachment was just an attempt to cover up the incident.
“The landless people also have the rights to settle like any other Nepali,” said Chand, adding that the guilty should be punished and the Maoists´ mass movement will decide what kind of punishment would be meted out to the guilty.
The Maoist party has also demanded that the government declare the deceased martyrs, compensate their families and provide free treatment to the injured. The party has also demanded an independent probe into the incident.
Maoists called a Tharuhat banda on Saturday and took out torch rallies across the country in the evening.
Meanwhile, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has alleged that the incident was part of the government strategy to derail the peace and constitution writing processes.
Speaking at a function in the capital, Dahal said the incident was a part of the conspiracy to sabotage the peace and constitution writing processes. He said the government resorted to “repressive measures in a Panchayati way” instead of solving the problem through talks.
Related story
Minister Sudi: 775 Chhaupadi huts demolished to curb menstrual...
