The farmers have also bought the land from the party. [break]
The party seized the land in January 1999. Though the Maoists returned a house to Sahakari in 2007, the land is still being used by the farmers who bought the land from the party for Rs 50,000.
After the original buyer of the land Ratnaman Sahakari of Rupsa-2 died, his brother, nephew, Abilal Sahakari, Dhan Sahakari and Bharat Bahadur Sahakari are currently cultivating the land, according to the rightful owner of the land.
"When I ask the Maoist party to return the land, the party says farmers are using it. When I ask the farmers to return it, they say I should first return them their investment," said Sahakari, the land owner. "I sought the administration´s help thrice. We had several meetings, but to no avail," he added.
He added that the Maoists have also been using the land of Jaya Bahadur Bam at Ramnakot, Prem Bahadur Shahi at Malkot and Ratna Bahadur Shahi at Malkot in the Kalikot district.
Though Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai directed immediately after assuming power that seized land be returned to rightful owners, none of the seized land pieces have been returned to their rightful owners in the Kalikot district so far.
The Home Ministry has asked District Administration Office (DAO) to furnish the details of that seized lands. According to Lal Bahadur Karki, section officer at DAO, the District Police Office (DPO) is currently inquiring into such claims, following the directive.
But Karki said returning the seized land that has been sold by the Maoist party will be complicated. He said since locals have already paid for such land, there is a problem regarding who will compensate them.
The Maoists, however, say that the state should sort out the problems that originated during the insurgency.
Maoist district in-charge Atom BC said returning the land that has been sold is difficult.
"Our friends appear to have sold the seized land pieces to farmers," he said. "Ordinary farmers have paid for the land. So, we are facing difficulty in immediately returning the land."
He added that talks are taking place with Nepali Congress and a solution should emerge soon. "We are trying to agree the farmers on taking this year´s harvest and then letting the land owners cultivate the land from next year," he said.
Meanwhile, our correspondent Dil Bahadur Chatyal reported from Dhangadi that some 150 families in Kailali are yet to get back their land seized during the insurgency.
"After the prime minister announced that the land would be returned within 15 days, we have visited District Administration Office thrice asking for our land," said Liladhar Bhandari, chairman of Conflict-Affected Society. "But there is no sign that our land will be returned," he added.
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