Nepalgunj, May 22:

Maoists today started returning land and property they had seized during the conflict in Banke.

A team of representatives from the local administration, eight political parties and human rights activists reached Baijapur along with another team of Maoists and started returning the property.

“The Maoists have expressed commitment to return all seized land,” Jana Morcha secretary Ganesh Khanal said.

The team of Maoists, including district leader Pradip Chaudhari, said it would return the land if the owners agree to start farming on it, Khanal said.

CPN-UML district secretary Devraj Bhar said, “If the eight parties are committed, all the seized land and property throughout the country will be returned; we initiated the process from Baijapur today.”

A meeting held in the presence of Maoists’ Banke secretary Chandrakanta yesterday agreed to give back locals their land and property. Maoists, however, have said they would not allow the owners to sell their land, Bhar said today.

Samasuddin Siddiki and Nanda Lal Sijapati whose land was seized by Maoists had reached Baijapur today to reclaim their assets. Maoists had seized plots of land belonging to five persons at Baijapur.