Youth Brigade Formed to Protect Land Rights in Rupandehi, Saugat Nyaupane Appointed Coordinator

A 51-member Youth Brigade to Protect Land Rights has been established in Rupandehi under the coordination of Saugat Nyaupane. This brigade aims to mount a strong protest against bulldozer intimidation and displacement faced by landless people, squatters, and those living in unplanned settlements. The Protection Committee has informed that similar youth brigades will be formed in other districts of the country to ensure land rights and justice. (26 Jestha, Butwal)

At a youth assembly held in Butwal on Tuesday, Saugat Nyaupane was selected as coordinator and Yuvraj Dhakal as co-coordinator, with the formation of a 51-member committee. According to coordinator Nyaupane, this youth brigade was formed to actively counter the government-led bulldozer intimidation and displacement, as well as humiliating behavior and activities carried out by government-affiliated individuals and groups against the landless, squatters, and those residing in unorganized settlements.

“The government is violating the constitution, court rulings, and human rights by forcibly displacing settlements of the landless, squatters, and unplanned residents. Some individuals have even committed suicide due to such repression,” he stated. “Meanwhile, government-aligned persons and groups have been humiliating these settlement residents, who have lived there for years, by posting negative comments on social media, causing pain among the people. This youth brigade was formed to fight these activities through legal and social means.”

Nyaupane added, “We urge the government to immediately proceed with issuing land ownership certificates for lands measured, taxed, and given tokens by the previous administration. If unjust displacement of landless, squatters, and unplanned residents continues, there will be a strong resistance.” Co-coordinator Yuvraj Dhakal disclosed that the youth brigade will form a separate subcommittee to investigate and initiate legal processes against those portraying these communities as encroachers or criminals, or engaging in unnecessary activities.

This youth brigade was formed under the ‘Nepal Landless, Squatters and Unplanned Settlements Protection Committee’, which was established during a national conference held in Butwal on 3rd and 4th Jestha, according to advisor Birendra Bik. Addressing the youth assembly, advisor Bik emphasized the need for unification of all affected communities to resist bulldozer intimidation and forced displacement happening under various names against landless, squatters, and unplanned settlers.

Protection Committee coordinator Khagendra Paudel and leaders of the unplanned settlements such as Birman Lama, Rajkumar Bhattarai, and Jyoti GC expressed that youth brigades will be formed in all districts facing issues to ensure land rights, resist unjust interference in settlements, and protect the rights of landless, squatters, and inhabitants of unplanned settlements.