Nepalgunj, May 21:

The Maoists have agreed to start the process of returning the land and properties seized in Banke to the rightful owners.

An agreement to this effect was reached at a meeting held at the District Administration Office (Banke) in the presence of representatives of the eight parties and human right activists today.

The process of returning the seized land and properties will be initiated from Baijapur tomorrow, a statement released after the meeting said.

“At the meeting, district secretary of the CPN (Maoist), Chandrakanta, agreed to initiate the process of returning the seized land and property to the rightful owners from Baijapur VDC from tomorrow,” district secretary of the CPN (UML) Devraj Bhar said. A team of right activists and eight parties will visit Baijapur VDC for this purpose, he said.

NC district president Krishna Man Shrestha, UML district secretary Bhar, Maoist secretary Chandrakanta, district president of the NC (D) Gajendra Hamal, IP Kharel of the Janamorcha Nepal, Satyawati Kurmi of the NSP (A), Diwakar Sharma of the CPN (ML), representatives of the Rastriya Jana Morcha, the Joint Left Front, Ganesh Regmi of the Nepal Human Right Organisation and Bhola Mahat of the INSEC undersigned the statement.

Meanwhile, a Maoist leader, Mohan Baidya alias Kiran, said in Butwal today that the CPN (Maoist) is not in favour of returning the land of big landlords. Baidya was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the regional bureau office of the CPN (Maoist).

Lumbini zonal head of the CPN (Maoist) Pampha Bhusal said the office had been set up to maintain close links with the people.