Locals of Khokana on Saturday carried out a ‘paddy transplantation protest’ at Khudolphant against the construction of the Kathmandu-Tarai expressway through the ancient settlement.

They also sowed maize and soybean seeds in the area, which is the proposed gateway of the expressway in the Valley.

[Read: Khokana residents blame govt for displacing Newars]

Earlier this month, a clash had erupted between the locals and security personnel when police intervened in a similar kind of protest in which at least four police personnel and more than a dozen protesters were injured.

[Visual Story: Shikali festival observed in Khokana]

Residents of Khokana say that half a dozen development projects planned in the area will uproot their traditional settlements. They have long expressed dissatisfaction over these projects as the government has neither provided them sufficient compensation nor sought their participation while designing the projects that threaten their cultural heritage.