Birgunj, February 18
Birgunj sub-metropolitan city office has pulled down around 500 shanties set up at a vegetable market based in BP Park close to Ghantaghar Chok.
Local vegetable traders and police personnel engaged in brief clashes when the office pressed a dozer into service to raze the huts. Enraged traders protested the action by disposing of vegetables on the road.
They have accused the office of pulling down the shanties without notifying them about the impending action in advance.
However, the office said it took action after the traders ignored a 48-hour notice to vacate the property.
While constructing a Mina Complex in Mina Bazaar about six years ago, the city office had shifted the vegetable market to the park complex. At that time, the two sides had agreed to shift the market back to the complex after its construction.
However, Vegetable and Fruit Traders’ Association later filed a case seeking scrapping of the contract on operation of the complex. After the court issued its verdict against the association, the city office issued a notice four days ago, directing the traders to vacate the property within 48 hours.
As traders paid no heed to the notice, the office removed the shanties by mobilisng a dozer on Sunday morning.
