Injured combatants rue party ‘apathy’
Suk Bahadur Gharti, an injured former UCPN (Maoist) combatant, was looking desperately at his retiring friends who lined up to receive the severance payment during a farewell function of the Maoist fighters at the Shaktikhor camp in Chitwan on Monday.
“We are returning home without feeling at ease,” he said.
Injured in the Beni attack in 2004, the 27-year-old has his left eye damaged and is living with bullets in his head and the waist ever since the encounter that paralysed his waist.
“After the doctors said it would cost more money to remove the bullets, I am battling death by only taking medicines in lack of money for the treatment,” he said.
He said that Rs 18,000 has been spent in medicines that the third division has managed.
He, however, said the Maoist party has not taken any initiative in his treatment. Although the party’s senior leaders visit the camp regularly, his flight has failed to draw their attention.
“We fought the war but we are left in a lurch when we desperately need additional support,” he said.
He demanded that the government arrange for their settlement in addition to the severance payment.
“I have lost both of my parents and my brother lives in a village. I cannot live without help. So special arrangements should be made for the injured combatants like me,” he said.
Similar is the plight of Tek Bahadur Budamagar, who, injured during the insurgency, is living with bullets in the head and in the back. All fingers of his hands are damaged. “I am confused how I can go home with this money. I fear those injured combatants like me, who cannot live without help,” he lamented.
Budamagar said that Peace Minister Satya Pahari had said the injured combatants would get 30-75 percent additional amounts as relief depending on the severity of their injuries.
He, however, rued no such provision has been introduced.
Though there is not exact data about the number of injured combatants and their nature in the division, commanders have demanded the Secretariat provide injured combatants with additional relief package.
“The government should make some arrangements for the injured fighters. We have demanded additional relief for around 150 injured combatants in the camp,” said division commander Dhan Bahadur Maski.
Posted on: 2012-02-08 08:03
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