‘Landless’ families return to razed settlement three months after eviction

Three months after their homes were demolished, families who claim to be landless squatters have returned to the Shantinagar settlement in Kohalpur, Nepal. Carrying bamboo poles and tarpaulins, they have begun constructing makeshift shelters, vowing to remain until authorities guarantee permanent resettlement.

The families arrived at the site on Saturday, where their homes were razed in May. Some cleared debris while others erected bamboo frames and covered them with tarpaulins, creating dozens of temporary shelters by the afternoon. This return reopens a contentious dispute over how authorities should manage individuals who have occupied public land for decades.

Residents express deep frustration, stating that repeated requests for settlement went unheeded after their homes were destroyed. "We were left in misery after the bulldozers razed our homes. We submitted memorandums and staged demonstrations demanding proper management, but nobody heeded," said Bir Bahadur Damai, coordinator of the Squatters and Unorganised Settlers Struggle Committee in Kohalpur. "That is why all the affected families have returned and put up tarpaulins."

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We were left in misery after the bulldozers razed our homes. We submitted memorandums and staged demonstrations demanding proper management, but nobody heeded. That is why all the affected families have returned and put up tarpaulins.

The Kohalpur Municipality had issued a 10-day eviction notice on April 29, leading to the demolition of 751 houses and sheds on May 9. While 110 families were moved to a temporary holding center, the evicted residents claim they had occupied the land for over three decades. Radhika Shahi, one of those displaced, lamented the disruption to her family's life, including her children's education and the difficulty of finding rental housing due to their status.

The situation briefly became tense when police attempted to remove the returning families. The residents are demanding not only housing and land ownership but also access to essential services like education, drinking water, healthcare, and employment. They insist on dialogue with the municipality to find a proper solution.

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Our lives have been thrown into chaos. Our children could not study, and we did not feel safe. The state did not listen to our demands. After three months without any alternative, we had no choice but to return to this same place.