According to the squatters, each of the 40 squatter huts paid the group Rs 1,500 as they have been promised landless identity cards by the group. The area where squatters have settled lies inside government forest.[break]
The squatters said Lauti Tharu and Ramji Chaudhari, who claim to be the leaders of the squatters, are involved in collecting money. Chhotkaiya Chaudhari said the money is purportedly meant for obtaining landless identity cards from the government.
The group is extorting money from the squatters as the Landless Problem Solving Commission (LPSC) is currently collecting squatter details for issuing landless identity cards. Ram Kumari Tharuni, another squatter, said she had to take loan to pay the amount to the group. “The Ministry of Land Reforms and Management has already provided land ownership certificates to the freed bonded laborers living in our settlement. As we don´t have land certificates, we paid the money to the group for getting landless certificates,” said Tharuni.
“We have collected the money to pay for the visits to Kathmandu and Gulariya for the purpose of making identity cards,” another squatter Sitaram Lohar said.
However, Lauti Tharu denied having taken any money from anyone and said some people wanted to tarnish his image and have accused him of collecting money,” said Lauti. According to government records about 40 landless people are living in various parts of Bardiya.
Dhananjaya Lamichhane, the district forest officer, informed that 52 families of freed bonded laborers in Bagnaha-1 have already been provided the landowner´s certificates. He said it is up to the LPSC whether to provide landless certificates to the squatters.
LPSC Chairman Aananda Dhungana said that those involved in extorting money from the squatters under the pretext of providing them with the landless identity cards would face action.
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