Nepal

Parties seize private land for squatters

Parties seize private land for squatters

By Shekhar Regmi

BIRATNAGAR: Various outfits together with the cadres of political parties have seized land registered in the name of late Narayan Prasad Koirala in Ghoghapul, Biratnagar-12, following the eviction of the landless squatters from there. Members of various political parties are now busy resettling the landless by seizing the land after it was sold off some days ago. The parties have hoisted their flags in the private land but the police have remained reticent. The parties had agreed to seize the land after landless people living there were evacuated without any compensation. Salim Ansari, head of Madhes Reconstruction Army, said, "We hoisted the flags for providing justice to the landless," adding, "We will remove the flags if the landless are given appropriate compensation." Unified CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party and Madhesi Freedom Tigers also hoisted their flags in the land later. Organising a press meet, they said that they would agitate if the administration interfered in their move. The leaders of the parties said that the land was seized to provide justice to the landless. Likewise, the Maoists have seized 1.4 bigha of land in Urlabari, Morang. Khemraj Pradhan 'Balidan', assistant secretary of the Maoists in the district, declared that the land of Surendra Niroula of Urlabari-6 has been seized.