Pyakurel, who received bullet injuries during the battle of Khara, Rukum eight years ago, declined to undergo surgery after doctors told him that three veins in the leg should be cut to remove the shrapnel and that could permanently disable his leg.[break]
"I want treatment at a good hospital, but I don´t have money," bemoans Pyakurel.
His wish to serve in the Nepal Army directorate through integration will remain unfulfilled due to the injuries. He is disappointed at the November 1 seven-point peace deal that is silent on the plight of the injured and amputee combatants.
"Rs 500,000, which I am supposed to get after voluntary retirement is not sufficient even for my treatment. I spent so many years in the war and now I have no house of my own and no land," says the father of two.
"My family has told me not to return home empty handed. I don´t know where to go," he adds.
Pyakurel fought in a dozen of battles including those of Jumla, Khara, and Mangalsen of Achham.
Similar is the situation of combatant Santosh Kattel, who has shrapnel in his head, at the same division. He is on painkillers for the past several years.
"I am still taking medicines. Doctors have asked me to undergo surgery. I don´t know how to pay for treatment after returning home," Kattel says.
He said he will not fill in the categorization form if his demand for treatment is not met.
"We fought for revolution but now we are being neglected. If they continue to ignore us, we will now fight for ourselves," he said.
The condition of combatant Kal Bahadur Bogati from Kalikot is even worse. He received bullets to both legs and one hand. Now he is worried that the money he would receive after voluntary retirement will not cover his treatment expenses.
Nawaraj Sunar lost one of his hands during a battle in 2004. "I had to amputate my limb for the casue of the people and the nation. It is sad that I worry for my survival now," he says.
The injured and amputees in the Seventh Division are angry with their party and the government for neglecting their plights. On Saturday, they prevented the categorization process at the division demanding that the government meet their demands. Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Satya Pahadi, PLA Deputy Commander Nanda Kishor Pun and Maoist leader Janardan Sharma visited the cantonments on Saturday and assured that the combatants´ demands would be met.
"The peace minister has assured us that the government would fulfill our demands. If the demands are not met, we will not participate in the categorization process," said Battalion Commander Prem Bayak.
There are 73 amputees and 400 injured in the Seventh Division alone.
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