The UCPN (Maoist) has already issued a circular to the party units to return the seized land by November 23 as per the seven-point agreement. [break]
The Mohan Baidya faction organized a press conference in Chitwan on Sunday and warned that it will resist any move to return the property.
UCPN (Maoist) Chitwan district in-charge, Anil Sharma, who is from the Baidya faction, said the seized property won´t be returned until an alternative arrangement is made to settle thousands of squatters currently residinng on the property.
Around 150 squatters are residing in a 12 bigha plot (8.13 hectares), captured in 2004, that belongs to Shovit Kumar Agrawal. Similarly, 100 squatters are residing on a five bigha plot (3.39 hectares) belonging to Bhagawati Farm. Maoist had also captured 12 bighas belonging to businessman Dinesh Agrawal in 2002.
Additionally, 83 bigha (56.21 hectares) registered in the name of Mercantile Company, in eastern Chitwan is also under Maoist control.
Maoists haven´t returned 22 bigha (14.9 hectares) in Kurintar, 2.5 bigha (1.69 hectares) in Jutpani and 18 bihga (12.19 hectares) in Paihani in the district.
Baidya faction leader Bhumeshwar Kandel, who is the central secretariat member of the All Nepal Peasants Union-Revolutionary, at the press conference, said aforementioned are some of the examples of the seized land and more plots of land are under their control.
Authorities concerned should address the problems of landless squatters first and only then will we return the seized land, said Nar Bahadur Gautam, the president of Maoist-affiliated squatters union.
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