Squatters residing along the Bagmati river have staged a demonstration in the Capital on Monday demanding safe settlement. They took out a protest rally from Maitighar Mandala to New Baneshwor this afternoon. They have asked a question to the government, “For how long do we have to live without land ownership certificates?”

The squatters have also demanded that the government open doors of dialogue and debate, ensure rights to housing and rights to live with options.

Earlier, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City had issued a notice, asking the squatters living in Thapathali along the Bagmati river to vacate the areas. After the squatters expressed their reluctance to clear the Bagmati corridor settlements within the given time frame, the KMC police personnel had reached Thapathali along with a dozer. In the meantime, a clash broke out between the squatters and the KMC police personnel. Around a dozen KMC police personnel including SP Raju Pandey were injured in the clash.