“I have made several rounds of the government and non-government offices in Bardia and Nepaljung since his abduction. But I have got no clue about him so far,” said Junkiri. “He had gone to the jungle for cutting grass when the Indian police whisked him away. I pleaded before the police on both sides of the border secure his release but to no avail,” she added tearfully.[break]
“He is not a criminal. How can they do it to an innocent person?” asked Junkiri.
According to Junkiri, she had heard of the incidences of Indian security forces abducting Nepali nationals for ransom. “It is not a new thing in the village. They misuse their power for money. Had I been able to hand over the sum demanded by the SSB back then, my husband would have been with me,” she said. “I did not have money. Later, they just said my husband was set free and that he had left for home,” she lamented.
According to Junkiri, the couple owns 10 katthas of land in the village but cannot meet their ends without working on others´ fields. “Without him, life is an ordeal for us,” she said.
An eyewitness of the case Uma Neupanne, local of Jamuni - 8, told Republica that he had seen a group of 7-8 Indian SSB men thrashing Harkabahadur and taking him away on a motorbike forcibly.
Chiranjeevi Wagle, distirct administration officer in Bardiya said that despite frequent inquiries, the Indian side has not responded clearly on the matter. “They have even denied that they held him,” he said. Wagle further added that the office has issued a letter to the home ministry regarding the case.
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