A vehicle belonging to the Division Forest Office was set on fire in Kalapani, Bardibas Municipality-3, Mahottari on Monday.
Ajay Kumar Mishra, Head of the Division Forest Office, Mahottari, said that the incident occurred last night when forest officials visited the area to issue a notice to evacuate the settlement in the forest area of Kalapani.
He said that locals also took a seven-member team led by Forest Officer Sweta Jha of the Sub-Division Forest Office, Gadhanta under control until midnight and obstructed the BP Highway against the move.
Later, a joint team of the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police rescued them.
Division Chief Mishra said that 1,100 hectares of forest land has been encroached upon in Rajabas, Kalapani, Baradada and Mahottari districts for settlement and cultivation.
