GORKHA: Activists of Tamu Rastriya Mukti Morcha, a sister organisation of the Unified CPN-Maoist, have seized the land belonging to Bharat Gurung, bodyguard of former prince Dhirendra Shah, here in Srinathkot VDC.

The Maoist cadres grabbed 650 ropanis of owned by Gurung in Ward No 6. According to local Dip Bahadur Gurung, a group of around 1,200 cadres turned up at the lands spread in Nage, Phalku, Chaitekharka, Kafalbote and Jhankre areas of the VDC and announced the seizure after hoisting their party flags there.

Admitting that they had seized the land, Maoist district secretary Chudamani Khadka (Prakash) said the action had been taken as per their policy of seizing land from the mafias. Accusing Gurung of registering the land in his name in an unauthorised manner, Khadka claimed that the Maoists would nationalise the property.

Meanwhile, Gurung's brother Indra Bahadur claimed that all the land seized by the Maoists was not theirs. He said the land on which they had laid claim belonged to Srinath Yogi Gufa Trust.

Land revenue officer Bishwonath Chapagain said the former rebels had seized 10 ropanis of land registered in the name of the trust.

According to a local, the land belongs to 10 owners, who are preparing to turn it into a tea-garden. "The 550 ropanis of land registered in the name of Himalaya Tea Estate does not belong solely to Bharat Gurung," Ek Bahadur Gurung, a local, said.