Biratnagar, February 10:

Private land and property worth millions of rupees seized by the Maoists during the decade-long insurgency are yet to be returned to the rightful owners in Biratnagar.

According to the police, the ruling party has returned some of the private and state property while other owners are yet to get their property back.

Forty-two bighas of land belonging to Adarsha Higher Secondary School in Sorabhag VDC, seized in 2002; three buildings belonging to the Sunsari-Morang Irrigation Office located at Banigama and a building of the Irrigation Office located at Bahuni are still under Maoist control.

Similarly, 101 bighas of land belonging to a Dugad family in Govindapur, 20 bighas of land belonging to Dilip Dhadebal in Babiya and 15 bighas of land belonging to Krishna Bahadur Karki of Rangeli are yet to be returned.

Likewise, seven bighas of land and a house belonging to Keshav Prasad Dhakal in Dangihat, a house on seven bighas of land belonging to Bhim Rawal, 1.5 bighas of land owned by Hem Chandra Ghimire in Kerabari, 15 bighas of land belonging to Laxman Kumar Newatiya of Govindapur and 100 bighas of land belonging to Kisanlal, Hukum Chanda, Motibabu and Tolaram Dugad in Govindapur are in the former rebels’ control.

The Maoists have also not returned 12 bighas of land and the house of Tapas Adhikari in Hasandaha and seven bighas of land owned by Pramod Niraula. Land and house of Bishnu Adhikary and Sudesh Rathi of Katahari are also yet to be returned.

Meanwhile, Morang secretary of the Unified CPN (Maoist) Shushil said the seized assets would be returned following a process. “Property of feudals and capitalists will not be returned, however,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, the police said the Maoists had returned some of the government buildings. The Maoists have returned the building housing the fire brigade and a guest house in Biratnagar.

Likewise, the village development committe buildings in Jante, Madhumalla, Mrigauliya and Motipur have also been returned.

Eight bighas of government land located in Kerabari, road division office building in Mrigauliya and the building of Morang Sugar Mill have also been returned.