Maoists threaten woman after killing spouse

BY K.P. GAUTAM

Banepa, Nov. 7: Life is not the same for Samrakchhya and Surakchhya anymore. They still feel insecure. The orphaned daughters, who have not yet crossed the age of five, have the lingering doubt whether they would also be deprived of their mother’s love and protection after having lost their father Balaram Sapkota at the hands of the Maoists two years ago.

Sapkota, vice-chairman of Panchkhal VDC, was abducted by the Maoists on a dark evening of 2056 Mangsir 14, and since then there was No information about him. No one knew whether he was alive or dead. The fact that he had been killed only came to light recently, just before this year’s Dashain, but it is still not clear when and where the tragic incident took place.

His innocent children were hoping that they would receive tika from their father during this year’s Dashain. Alas! When gaiety and celebrations were in the air, they came to learn that their father was no more on this earth.

Sarita Sapkota, widow of Balram, is worried about the future of her kids and herself. The anxiety-ridden Sarita expressed rage at the Maoists who brought death to her husband and are still continuing to issue threats to her and her family.

Outraged Sarita was so taken up with emotions that she dared the Maoists to do the same to her in the presence of all.

After the kidnapping of her spouse by the Maoists, she frequently inquired with the locall and central leaders of the Maoists about the condition of her husband. But they provided no definite answer.

Recently, at a press meet in Kathmandu, Agni Sapkota, a Maoist leader, informed that Balram Sapkota was finished off due to the whimsical Alok (Yan Prasad Gautam) nature, she said.

"The Maoists who did not inform me about the murder of Balram in the village have now threatened me that I would have to face the consequences if I performed the last rites of my husband," Sarita said.

Considering the day they heard the news of Balram’s death as the eighth day, his family performed the rayi (last rites).

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML has, from time to time, made demands with the Maoist leadership to make public the condition of Sapkota but there was no response on the part of the Maoists.

Only after the government-Maoist peace talks were initiated, the Moists disclosed that Sapkota had been ‘eliminated’.

Elected on UML ticket, late Sapkota did not belong to the feudal class but to a poor family. He struggled all his life and had led a simple and honest life.

Recalling his son’s childhood, Chhabilal Sapkota, father of Balram, said, "I could not even provide him food and housing since the age of five. He grew up as a straightforward person and involved himself in social works."

Angered by the news of the murder of his son, Chhabilal, father of nine sons and two daughters, said that he has nothing but strong hatred for the Moists.

"We are born to die," he said, adding, "but why did they kill him?"

That is a question that Balram’s family has not been able to find an answer to.

Likewise, RSS adds from Kavrepalanchok, the CPN-UML district committee, Kavre organised a Kavrepalanchok district bandh Tuesday in protest of the murder of Panchkhal VDC vice chairman and the CPN-UML member Balaram Sapkota by the Maoists.

Member of the Maoist talks team Agni Sapkota had at a recent press conference here confirmed that the murder of Sapkota, who was abducted by Maoist Guerillas in Mangsir 2056.

Following the recent CPN-UML standing committee meeting, which termed Maoist activity unpolitical and facist, this is the first time the CPN-UML organised a district bandh programme protesting against the criminal activities of the Maoists.

No untoward incident took place in course of the bandh in Kavre which saw complete closure of factories, businesses, educational institutions and transport services, according to police.

Meanwhile, armed Maoist guerrillas have blown away the police post at local Arjunchaupari on Monday night.

Some 200 armed guerrillas are learnt to have destroyed the police post. No one was inside the police post at the time of the attack.

It is said the Maoist workers also collected donations at Arjun Chaupari Bazaar.

Meanwhile, preparations are being made to mobilise the Royal Nepalese Army at sensitive areas of the district to prevent further violence in view of the Maoist-sponsored violence in different parts of the district over the past few days.

In this connection, army officers of the Royal Nepalese Army No.3 Battalion Office at Pokhara are learnt to have conferred with the security officials in Syangja.

It is learnt that the army is also to be mobilised in Chapakot, Kuwakot and Ratnapur to pave the way for the rehabilitation of the families displaced due to the Maoist violence back to their homes.