Kohalpur Municipality removes squatters, defying Supreme Court order

Nepalgunj– Kohalpur Municipality in Banke has deployed bulldozers and police to remove a squatter settlement, defying a court order.

The municipality sent bulldozers and a large number of police to the settlement early Saturday morning, claiming it was to clear land belonging to the Town Development Committee. This action goes against a Supreme Court order.

On Friday, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order to halt the operation of bulldozers in the squatter settlement. However, disregarding the court’s order, Kohalpur Municipality has been announcing through loudspeakers for the settlement to be vacated.

The 10-day notice period issued by Kohalpur Municipality for vacating the land ended today. Some residents have vacated following the notice, but others have not left the settlement.

Efforts are underway to forcibly remove those who remain. Some residents have united to protest against the government’s actions.

According to Kohalpur Municipal Police Chief Bir Bahadur Thapa, there are 751 houses and huts on the Town Development land. Among them, 172 belong to landless Dalits, 163 to squatters, and 416 to unorganized settlers.

Kohalpur Municipality has set up holding centers at various locations to accommodate genuine squatters. So far, 60 families have moved to these centers.

However, the residents are demanding alternative arrangements before they are evicted.

Kohalpur Municipality has issued a notice today stating that the court’s order does not apply to the Town Development land.