Maoists terrorists have forcibly taken control of agricultural farms belonging to large landowners in the Rajapur area covering 11 village development committees here and introduced collective farming since the last few months, the Himalayan Times English daily reported quoting its Bardiya correspondent.

“The Maoist terrorists the other day mobilised the entire villagers for rice plantation,” a farmer returning from a village to Gulariya, told the Himalayan Times. The police post in the area was withdrawn long ago following attacks by the terrorists.

“There is no government or security forces. There are only terrorists and the people are forced to cooperate with them at gunpoint,” he said.

He said the Maoists have also destroyed all Village Development Committee buildings in Rajapur area. Most people who have land in the villages have long left the areas for Gulariya, the district headquarter which remains safe.

This is the second time the terrorists have been engaged in capturing private farms for “collective farming.” “We are forced to work in the rice field without payment,” said another farmer.

“The Maoists also collect taxes from everybody in the villages during the winter.” (with permission from The Himalayan Times)