Gaighat, January 1 Land mafias have started encroaching land at Dwar khola in Beltar-Basaha Municipality, Uadayapur. After the construction of a bridge over the river, mafias have plotted and sold land. Chandra Karki, a local, said that mafias had sold land in the northern part of the river. Keshav Timilsina of Beltar Basaha Municipality said that mafias had sold land at per kathha land at Rs 10 lakh to 60 lakh. Locals have objected to the plotting and sale of land saying that changing the course of the river would wreak havoc on hundreds of houses and thousands of bigaha land at Jyamire, Belahi, and other villages. The villagers registered a case with the local administration seeking action to curb land encroachment. Local Raju Magar said that dykes constructed by the mafias in the middle of the stream could cause damage to the recently constructed bridge.