RAUTAHAT, March 20: Almost 18 years have gone by since the Gaur massacre that left not just the nation but the global community stunned at the time. On March 21, 2007, a horrendous clash flared up when the then Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum Nepal and the CPN (Maoist) scheduled events on the same day at the Rice Mill Field in Gaur, the district headquarters of Rautahat.
According to a field study by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), 27 Maoist cadres were killed during the clash. The incident left 115 people injured. The Gaur Incident Investigation Commission also concluded that the attack was premeditated, intentional, and carried out with extreme brutality.
On the unfateful day, five bodies were found near the Maoist stage at the Rice Mill Field in Gaur. Forum cadres chased and killed Maoist members in different locations up to five kilometers from the event venue.
Maoist cadres Pratima Khatun, Rekha Pariyar, Usha Thapa, and Saraswati Upreti were raped and then burned to death.
Heed the demands of Gaur massacre victims
The brutal killings, where Maoist cadres were shot, attacked with khukuris, beaten with sticks and wooden planks, gained global attention. After the incident, top Maoist leaders collected the bodies of the deceased and brought them to Kathmandu. A tribute program was held at Khulla Manch in Kathmandu before the final rites were performed.
Even after 18 years, the perpetrators of the Gaur massacre have not been punished. Victims filed complaints against those involved at the Rautahat District Police Office years ago, but the legal process remains unresolved.
While the case is still under review at the Rautahat District Police Office, victims continue to appeal to the government. They even staged protests in Kathmandu, demanding action against those responsible, but no action has been taken.
Despite the case being under judicial consideration, victims still hope for justice.
Prabhu Sah, Chairman of the Aam Janata Party and a Member of Parliament, raised the demand in the House of Representatives for action against the masterminds behind the Gaur killings. He called for action against those involved and urged the government to take action against the perpetrators of the massacre.
Although the Maoists suffered heavy losses in the Gaur massacre, their cadres and leaders have remained largely silent about the incident.
The NHRC has repeatedly urged the government to take action against the perpetrators and ensure justice for the victims' families.
