The Nepal government has blamed Maoists for recent clashes between police and homeless squatters in Kailali that claimed six lives saying they were encouraging locals to encroach forest area, even as a key body of ethnic Tharus condemned plans of "some political groups" to help Indian immigrants settle in the remote region.
The Maoists were responsible for the killing of five civilians and a policeman during a demolition drive in Kailali district as they were encouraging local villagers to encroach the forest land, Home Minister Bhim Rawal told reporters.
The clashes erupted on Friday after security forces tried to clear the forest area of Maoists-backed squatters and local people who had constructed make-shift houses there.
Security personnel destroyed some 2,500 temporary settlements in the forest and removed villagers from there. The Minister also applauded the security forces for having done "a good job" by clearing the forest area of squatters.
Meanwhile, the 'Tharu Welfare Council', a prominent group of ethnic Nepalese in the southern Terai plains, said it is a matter of concern that efforts are being made to encroach the forest land of Kailali by political groups promising land and citizenship certificates to 'pahadis' or people from hill region and Indian migrants.