ITAHARI: Activists of the UCPN-Maoist today captured 15 bighas of private land in Chhitaha VDC of Sunsari district.The land belonging to Kishor Baduwal, in Ward No 6, was seized by the Maoists who had reached there under the command of Maoist lawmakers duo Santosh Chaudhari and Liladevi Yadav. Landowner Baduwal has been living in Biratnagar. A large number of UCPN-Maoist cadres, calling Baduwal a “feudal landlord”, announced the seizure by hoisting party flags on the land.

According to Sharada, a Maoist leader, the party seized 15 out of the total 30 bighas of land, for which Baduwal did not possess the ownership certificate. Baduwal was reportedly unable to produce the certificate for half his estate when asked by the former rebels.

The Maoist caders distributed the land among 30 tillers, who had been cultivating it for years. They said the remaining land would also be seized. The Maoists also seized 20 quintals of paddy from the field.