DHANGADHI: UCPN-Maoist cadres have seized the land belonging to five people, including a CPN-UML district committee member, in Chuha VDC.

Saying that it was the order of the district command, a group of 20 led by Shantu Chaudhari, in-Charge, Chuha VDC, seized the land belonging to Shankarman Bohara, Khemraj Pandey, Rangaraj Pandey, Prem Dhungana and Bishwonath Uprety on Saturday.

Bohara said he had been given a five-day ultimatum to leave the village. "They have erected the party flag at my house. Where am I to go with my family of 13?" the district committee member of the CPN-UML wondered. Rangaraj Pandey is another to have got the ultimatum.

Meanwhile, Hari Gywali 'Akhanda', district in-Charge, UCPN-M said only Uprety's land had been taken under control, as done during the insurgency, since he had denied talks with the former rebels. He claimed the assets of all the people had been handed back. He added they had just carried on the legacy of seizing land from the feudals.

The Maoists have taken about 1,000 bighas of land under their control in Kailali in violation of the peace process.