Locals of Mahadevtar, Gongabu, on Thursday protested against the alleged attempt by Supreme Court Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli to illegally encroach four Anna (127.16 squr m) of public land .

The locals destroyed the wall constructed under the instruction of Justice Parajuli in the nearby plot adjoining his plot of three Aana.

Security personnel were also deployed as the locals tried to bring down the wall. Locals and police clashed briefly after the forceful attempt to construct the wall.

Chandra Neupane, a local, accused the justice of abusing his power to infringe the public land . "He [Justice Parajuli] tried to acquire the land by using police, we will not let it happen at any cost."

The locals said that Parajuli had attempted to acquire the land three years ago as well. Parajuli had to give up on the adjoining land at that time after the locals protested aggressively.

"Using the security personnel to beat and arrest us, this is sheer misuse of state power," said Neupane. A large number of security personnel were deployed and shops in Mahadevtar area remained closed following the incident.

A surveyor was sent to assess the land after the locals padlocked the VDC office demanding the demarcation of public land . The padlock on the VDC office was removed after a team of surveyors concluded that the disputed area was a public.