Bardiya, December 23:

The people displaced from Rajapur of Bardiya district have not got their lands back though more than a year passed after the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

A total of 1,700 bighas of land belonging to 260 households from 10 VDCs of Rajapur have not been returned by the locals supporting the Maoists and their cadres.

Kedar Atre of Manpur Tapara-3, who has been living in Kathmandu since he was displaced in 2061 BS expressed his plight saying he was having difficulty running his family without land.

Janak Raj Gyawali of Manau-5, who is living in Gulariya said though the local administration had told them to complain to claim properties, other problems are created after complaints.

Gyawali wondered where they would live and what they would eat when the displaced are not returned their houses and lands. The displaced households from different villages of Manau, Manpur, Tapara, Badalpur, Nayagaun, Khairichandanpur, Dolatpur, Patabhar, Gola, Pashupatinagar and Rajapur VDCs said they could not get their properties back in spite of incessant pleas to the political parties, civil society, journalists and human rights defenders.

However, CPN-Maoist District In-Charge Himal said they had already directed their cadres and supporters to return the seized houses and return lands of the displaced people. The problems can be solved with an understanding between the locals and landlords, he said.