At least four people died and over a dozen were injured in Nepal after clashes broke out between police and people during an anti-encroachment drive to clear a government-owned land, media reports say. The incident took place on Sunday in Rupendehi district of Lumbini province.

The clashes started between security forces and squatters who had encroached upon government land in the district, resulting in the death of four people, confirmed Kamal Pandey, assistant chief district officer. 

Around 15 people are seeking treatment in a nearby hospital. Of them, one is said to be in critical condition. Officials also claimed at least two dozen members of security forces were injured in the incident. Authorities have enforced a curfew in Motipur Industrial Areas, where the clashes took place, till further notice. 

A few years ago, the government had cleared acquired around 500 hectares of land in the district to set up an industrial zone there. However, there has been a huge influx of people -- officials estimate around 5000--from neighboring districts to the site. 

Authorities decided to clear the land when hundreds of encroachers started building their huts on the site notified for the industrial zone.

The swift response from the government came after many of its projects, including those involving foreign direct investments (FDIs), were delayed in the past during the delayed land allocation. China, one of the biggest FDI sources for Nepal, had recently stopped processing funds until the lands are cleared for the projects. 

(SAM)