Dhankuta, November 29:

Maoists have claimed to have seized the house of a royalist, Balanand Bhurtel, at Shravani in Ward No 6 of Dhankuta municipality. The house was grabbed by YCL cadres a few days ago. The Maoists have also started running a mess there for their cadres. Earlier, they were staying at Balmandir in Ward 5 of Dhankuta municipality. Bhurtel was nominated chairman of Dhankuta DDC during the royal regime. He was actively associated with former minister Kamal Thapa’s faction of the RPP.