However, not all of them are so lucky. The families of Bhojraj Dhakal of Pipari, Kohalpur-8 and Khusiram Tharu of Naubasta are still struggling hard to get what they are entitled to in lack of “proper connection”. [break]
On 10 September 2002, Dhakal was forcefully taken away from his house by Maoist combatants while he was busy attending annual death ritual of his father. Tharu, on the other hand, was picked up by the Army in 2002 while he was returning home from India. Dhakal was 36 and Tharu just 22 years of age when they were taken away.
The Maoists had said that they would leave Dhakal within a few minutes. Nine years down the line, Dhakal´s whereabouts is still unknown.
Over the years, Dhakal´s mother Bishnumaya made several rounds of government offices, and the offices of non-governmental and human rights organizations seeking justice but to no avail.
After Dhakal went missing, his wife married another man leaving behind her three children with Dhakal. The responsibility of the children then fell upon the old lady.
Dhakal´s name figures in the list of missing collected by the government and non-governmental organizations.
However, Bishnumaya has not yet received any kind of assistance as promised by the government. "Some other conflict victims at my own village have received relief assistance and that gave me some hope," said the 67-year-old lady. "However, even after knocking on the door of several organizations, I have failed to get anything," she added.
As per the relief provision for the victims, Dhakal´s children are entitled to get Rs 10,000 to 14,000 on annual basis for education in addition to Rs 25,000 to the family.
At the relief distribution centers, nepotism in direct involvement of the representatives of several parties is rife these days.
Commenting on the case of Dhakal, Chief of District Peace Committee Taraprasad Khatri said that Dhakal´s family had already received assistance during the first phase of distribution.
In case of Tharu, his mother Batasiya has accused the administration of deliberately misplacing his file. His whereabouts since the abduction by the Army 9 years ago is unknown. His mother too has not received any kind of support so far.
Meanwhile, in Banke district, the families and relatives of 58 missing persons have received relief assistance till now. Similarly, the relatives of 238 murdered during the conflict have been provided the assistance.
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