KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office on Friday padlocked 17 sheds constructed at the land of Duimaju Guthi in Khula Manch, open space at the heart of Kathmandu.

A guthi is a social organization, or a trust, that manages the cultural, social and religious activities through the income of its land holdings.

In the year 2018, the Guthi Sansthan had assigned Amrita Bhattarai with the responsibility to look after the land. Bhattarai was assigned to look after Duimaju Temple. She rented out the Duimaju Temple premises to individuals for business purposes.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City on February 22, 2018, had given permission to build sheds as per the agreement reached with the Guthi Santhan Branch Office, Kathmandu. Earlier the office had asked to demolish the sheds.

“We padlocked the sheds after traders refused to leave,” said Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi, adding that Khula Manch has been encroached in different excuses.