Most of the 44 former underground outfit members active in Rautahat, Bara and Parsa districts, who renounced the violent conflict, are now to be found running their own businesses to earn a living. [break]
As per information provided by police, 23 members of five underground armed groups in Rautahat, three members of two armed groups in Bara and 22 members of six armed groups in Parsa had surrendered to the government.
Most of those who surrendered in Rautahat are involved in agriculture or have started shops while some of them have gone for greener pastures abroad. Kuran Miya aka Sher Shinha, then chief of the armed outfit Janatantrik Jwala Singh group, is involved in agriculture to support his 10-member family. Miya is repentant over his underground past.
“I could not spend time with my family and children when I was with the outfit. I am really ashamed in terms of humanity for what I did as a member of the armed group,” said Miya.
Arjun Jaisawal aka Shaka, former Ratutahat district in-charge of the underground armed group Tarai Army, has now taken to the hotel business in Garuda after renouncing violence. He was involved in the bomb blast in Kathmandu.
Jaisawal said that he surrendered to live an independent life after realising that the armed outfit members were destined to get killed sooner or later as well as because of the increasing public hatred toward armed groups.
“The armed groups acting in the name of Tarai liberation are causing fear and violence in society and destroying peace. They are running the business of forced donations for their own benefit,” said Jaisawal.
Karan Singh, who had served as Janatantrik Jwala Singh group Rautahat district army commander, has opened a cosmetics shop in front of the police post at Bariyarpur after renouncing the underground life.He said that he was involved in the conflict because he was misled. Dubbing those still involved in the underground armed groups as people who have lost their way in life, he requested them to renounce violence and lead a life of respectability.
Around half a dozen gun-toting individuals from the past are now working in India and some Gulf countries to earn a living and support their families. Naresh Patel of Sangrampur-7, a former armed group member, is now working at a garment factory in India and earning a decent income to support his family. Patel said that he has been living a peaceful life after surrendering.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) in Rautahta, Govindaram Pariyar, most of the armed group members who renounced violence between 2063 to 2066 BS, have adopted a civilian way of life. According to police officers, some four armed outfits are still in dialogue with the government in the process of renouncing violence.
Related story
Business ideas matter
