Siraha, October 24:

Maoist leader facilitates illegal settlers.

Squatters have started living in the land captured by a Maoist team led by former Minister for Land Reform and Management Matrika Prasad Yadav in Mirchaiya-3 in Siraha district.

Though Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had said that the seized land would be returned to rightful owners, some 250 squatters from Sikraun, Mahalniya, Radhopur, Kuthanma, Mirchaiya, Jiwa, Matiyarwa, Birtamapur and Prayagpur VDCs have settled down in the land by constructing huts.

“We started living in the land by constructing huts after Maoist cadres told us to do so,” Bindeshwor Mahara, a resident of Mirchaiya-8, said.

“The land has been distributed to over 300 squatters and construction of huts is still underway,” Ram Babu Mahara, chairman of Land Distribution and Hut Construction Committee, said. “We would not give up our struggle as leader Matrika Yadav was forced to

resign as minister over the land dispute.”

“We are trying to install electricity wires in the huts by collecting money ranging from Rs 50 to 100 from each hut,” Pabitra Mahara, another squatter, said. She said they were living in the huts round the clock and bring food from their original houses.

A team led by Maoist CA members Mehendra Paswan, Jagat Yadav and Maoist district in-charge Dilip Shah had seized 5.5 bighas of land along with a two storeyed 16-room house belonging to 67 persons including Birendra Shah of Kalyanpur-6 on August 29. They seized the land saying that saying that it belonged to former king Gyanendra Shah’s sister Shova Shahi and brother-in-law Mohan Shahi.

Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) had staged agitation for 13 days against the seizure, saying that the Maoists seized the land of the civilians against the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

Though security personnel had destroyed the huts on September 14 at the direction of Home

Ministry, it was re-captured by a team led by then Minister Matrika Yadav on September 15. Yadav had quit the government after his own party objected to his action.

The owners of the land said they were irritated at the government inaction to return their land even after the PM’s promise.