Racketeers have sold almost one ropani of land belonging to a woman who has been living abroad for many years, by forging her citizenship and land ownership certificate. Shanta Rana, who now lives in the US, recently came to Nepal after learning that her land (14 aana) in Pokhara-6, Baidam has been encroached upon by some neighbors.

When Rana, who is originally from Chitwan district, went to Land Revenue Office of Kaski, she knew that her land, which is worth Rs 30 million, had already been transferred to somebody else. On Friday, Rana lodged a complaint at District Police Office of Kaski against those who sold her land. On Tuesday, the police arrested eight people for forging Rana´s citizenship and land ownership certificates in the process to sell her land. According to DSP Shyam Prasad Adhikari, Shanti Lama, 60, who is believed to be the kingpin of the land fraud racket, had forged Rana´s citizenship certificate from Chitwan and land ownership certificate from Kaski.

However, it is not clear whether the eight arrested by the police on Tuesday also includes Lama. The police have not yet revealed their identities. The police say there may be more involved in the racket. A team of police from Kaski has already left for Kathmandu to arrest more involved in the racket. ccording to spokesperson for Kaski police Rabindra Poudel, charges of fraud will be filed against the eight at Kaski District Court on Wednesday. According to sources at the land revenue office, Kaski, the land, which has been transferred at least twice in the last one year without the real owner´s knowledge, was inherited by Rana from her father in 2043 B.S.

Published on: 22 August 2012 | Republica