Devisara´s children -- Dhan Bahadur, 4, Dil Sara, 7, and Harka Bahadur, 10 -- are currently being looked after by their 16-year-old sister-in-law, whose name is also Devisara. She is waiting for the release of her father-in-law Krishna Bahadur, who was injured and detained by NA personnel after they shot his wife and daughter dead. [break]
Another woman, Amrita BK, 33, was also killed in the incident. All of them had sneaked into BNP to collect tree bark. They had been earning their daily bread selling the bark in the local market.
Devisara BK´s house has been thronged by neighbors. Her youngest son Dhan Bahadur may not fully appreciate the fact that his mother and sister have been killed. But he appears gloomy and dejected.
Otherwise a cheerful child, Dhan appears lost as neighbors turn up to console the bereaved family. His siblings Dilsara and Harka Bahadur appear devastated. Sister-in-law Devisara says there is no grain to feed the destitute children.
“My father-in-law and mother-in-law had told me that they would buy rice after selling tree bark,” she says. Her husband Rabi Lal, who is working in India, has not been in contact for the last few months. “I´m not sure I will survive till my husband returns,” she says, her eyes tearful.
Similarly, Hemanta, 6, Buddha Bahadur, 8, and Kamala, 12 --the three children of Amrita B.K, who was killed along with Devisara -- are also in mourning. “The children keep on asking about their mother,” Amrita´s husband Durga Bahadur, who managed to survive the incident, says. “I am unable to pacify them."
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