Rautahat, June 25 Locals of Gaur in Rautahat have started a protest against the perceived attempts of the land mafia to sell a strip of land belonging to a closed factory. The land originally belonging to Gaur Rice Mill had been used as public space ever since the mill shut down 49 years ago. But with the land mafia allegedly trying to sell the land, the locals have started a sit-in in front of the municipalty office. Earlier, the government under Madhav Kumar Nepal had decided to expropriate six bigaha land plot and turn it into public land. But, in the wake of the government decision to appropriate the land without paying any compensation, land mafia had managed to get the government decision revoked by the Supreme Court on the basis of fake documents. Amidst the alleged attempts of the land mafia to sell the land plot by unduly influencing ward office representatives, ward chairpersons and the chairperson of Federation of Nepali JounralistsRautahat chapter, local leaders, including NCP (NCP) youth leader ShambhuSah started a sit-in yesterday. A struggle committee has also been formed to launch the protest. NCP (NCP) leader Sah condemned the attempt to sell public land. “In fact the ones in this bid to sell public land are the foes of all,” said Sah, who has staged a sit-in. The protesters have also sent memorandums to the provincial chief minister, chief district officer and mayor seeking protection for the playground. Meanwhile, Gaur Municipality Mayor Ajaya Gupta said the process of acquiring the land is going on. “We’re managing the fund to acquire the land, as we are planning to make a stadium there,” he said, dismissing claims that land mafia are up to selling the land plot for millions. “Anyone who comes seeking compensation on valid documents will get it,” he said.