2.3 Incidents in DangThe Khalyan incident
The anger of the security forces following the Maoist attack on Ghorahi on 23 November 2001 was directed towards poor Tharu farmers of Bargaddi village in Tribhuban Municipality-3. Alleging them to be Maoists, security forces killed 11 villagers who were working their landlord’s field in Khalyan. Those killed were: Jagmaan Chaudhary, Sati Lal Chaudhary, Krishna Chaudhary, Aasha Ram Chaudhary, Chona Chaudhary, Khusi Ram Chaudhary, Chiju Chaudhary, Bishram Chaudhary, Laxman Chaudhary, Somlal Chaudhary and Prasad Chaudhary.
Dilli Raj’s fate
At midnight on 1 April 2002 Dilli Raj Adhikari, 58 years old, of Urahari village, Urahari-3, was woken by a prolonged knocking at his door. “Who is it?” he asked from his veranda. A familiar voice answered, “Please come downstairs for a while brother.” Dilli Raj rushed downstairs, concerned something might have happened to one of the villagers. His wife tried to stop him saying, 'It’s midnight, why do you have to go?” He replied that he would return soon and went downstairs. “Someone might be in need,” he said and opened his front door. A group of Maoists were at the door. They said they needed him for a while, but took him some three kilometres from his home and beat him almost to the point of death: they broke his legs, ribs and spine. Dilli Raj had to spend some Rs 35,000 for his subsequent treatment, while the government covered other expenses. He has survived, but is now handicapped. It was later revealed that the Maoists had punished him on the understanding that he was a government spy. He has since received no support; currently he is disabled, and living with his two sons, daughter-in-laws and three grandsons.
The Pendya incident
Tharu farmers were celebrating the Festival of Pendya, on 9 December 2001 in Laxmipur VDC, as they did every year after having taken in the annual harvest. Feasting throughout the day, they were dancing and singing that night. At some point, the army surrounded the house and shot and killed 11 innocent people. The security forces later justified their action by declaring the dead to have been Maoists, who had allegedly broken curfew.
The Kathberuwa event
The villagers of Kathberuwa, Bela-2, were roofing their houses with hay on 17 June 2002 when an army search group arrested seven villagers. Two of them, Chatak Bahadur Chaudhary and Ganesh Chaudhary, were shot dead on the spot. The remaining five: Uday Ram Chaudhary, Hari Lal Chaudhary, Kedar Nath Chaudhary, Dhani Ram Chaudhary and Bhim Bahadur Chaudhary were taken to the Musot River and brutally murdered.
The Rajakot jungle incident
The villagers of Kauwaghari, Goltakuri-8, were on their way to a local forest in search of timber to make electricity poles on 30 June 2002. There were three groups consisting of both villagers and VDC representatives. On their way to the forest, the second group encountered security forces assigned to protect of Rajakot tower. The first group was ahead and the third one far behind them. The villagers, who were carrying axes, were accused of being Maoists and were arrested by the soldiers. To prove their innocence the villagers gave their names, addresses and occupations, and explained why they were visiting the forest. They begged to be believed, but could not soften the soldiers’ hearts.
The soldiers ordered the villagers to strip, blindfolded them with their own clothes and then killed 12 of them then and there. Those killed belonged to Sarki, an untouchable caste specialised in leather works. One of the group, Shobha Ram Nepali, was able to escape by jumping down the hill: he became the only witness to the incident to survive. The bodies of the dead were never recovered. One of the dead was unmarried, one had married the same year and the others were married with children.
After the incident, the families of the 12 victims along with Dev Bahadur Sarki and the support of SEED, submitted an application for compensation to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). On 16 May 2005 the NHRC declared the victims innocent and awarded Rs 50,000 to each of the bereaved families. Whilst SEED made efforts to ensure that families received this compensation from the District Administration Office, Dang, this never happened. Until today, SEED continues to urge the NHRC to make the money available to the victimised families.
After the death of their breadwinners, families were left helpless. To aid their self-reliance, SEED provide three months of training on painting and knitting to some family members. Families were able to knit sweaters for themselves and their children, and this also gave an opportunity for them to share their pain. SEED also supported the children of victims to attend school and provided them with school uniforms. Now at least the families are encouraged somewhat by seeing their children in education.
SEED also provided economic support to the families to create small businesses according to their needs, including goat rearing, vegetable farming and small shops. The economic problems of the households have lessened. Additionally, rights-based education is offered in the village, which has helped to change the villagers’ attitude from pessimism to optimism.
The event of Teej
Roughly two months after the Rajakot jungle incident on 8 September 2002 another horrific episode occurred in Baakhre village, Phoolbari-4. As part of the Teej festival some villagers were sharing buffalo meat when some security forces, in pursuit of Maoists, arrived at the village. The Maoists escaped past the villagers and the soldiers, alleging that the villagers were also with the Maoists, randomly fired on them, killing six. Ram Kumar Nepali, Top Bahadur B.K., Manoj Nepali, Choodamani Shrestha, Dharam Nepali and Top Bahadur Nepali died on the spot. Punaram B.K. and Bhakta Bahadur Nepali were forced to dig graves for the six, and the soldiers beat these two close to the point of death. Despite medical treatment Puna Ram B.K. died in October 2003 and Bhakta Bahadur Nepali died on 22 November. Altogether eight innocent people lost their lives in the incident.
Death of Hari Raj Dangi
Maoists made Hari Raj Dangi, 45, of Damar Gaun, Phoolbari-1 walk for nearly an hour from his home on 22 May 2004. They took him to Dhakana village of the same VDC and slit his throat. They murdered him in a community forest near a local school on the charge of corruption and of spying on Maoists. His widow, four daughters and a son are left behind, and are now dependent on a piece of land that can only sustain them with difficulty.