The land was seized two years ago by Maoist-affiliated peasants´ organization and distributed to the squatters. The Maoists later asked the squatters to vacate the land. But after the election to Constituent Assembly, another group of people who call themselves squatters arrived and erected huts on the land. The new settlers have also garnered Maoist backing.
The DAO issued the second notice two weeks ago and gave the squatters seven days to vacate the land. However, Maoists´ district in-charge Thakur Dhakal issued a statement saying that the squatters won´t be removed.
Chief District Officer Ratna Raj Panday said he issued the notice after calling an all-party meeting where everyone including the Maoist representatives had agreed to vacate the land. But the Maoists changed their position, Panday said.
Pashupati Firm has registered a complaint in the DAO last year, while Bhagawati Firm did the same this year.
Dhakal said there was an agreement to launch a probe before vacating the land. He claimed that the DAO had agreed to provide alternative settlement to those identified as legitimate squatters after the probe. He said as the administration backtracked from its promise, the squatters will not vacate the land. “Furthermore, removing them from the land in the rainy season is inhumane,” Dhakal said.
CDO Panday said the political parties should not hinder the administration´s effort to remove illegal occupants from private land.
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