But Ghartimagar, who gave all he could to the party, is living in oblivion with three bullets lodged in his knee. “I fiercely fought the state security forces during the insurgency. But I am living with three bullets lodged in my knee for nine years now,” rues Ghartimagar aka Amit, of Seram-8 Ghusbang. [break]
On March 20, 2005, Ghartimagar was hit by bullets in a clash with security forces. Two years later at Bir Hospital, a video x-ray revealed three bullets lodged in his knee. “The doctors at Bir Hospital said they would conduct a surgery to remove the bullets, but were not sure if they could completely cure my wounds,” says Ghartimagar, who is now 36.
“I returned home without surgery fearing I would have to lose my leg. But going abroad for treatment was also out of question for a poor person like me,” he added.
Now, Gharmtimagar had grown increasingly anxious about his future. “I had no fear of death during the conflict. But, now I fear about my future as I have lost all contact with the party,” he says, adding, “I am unable to work hard due to the bullet injury.”
Ghartimagar has also lost three of his fingers fighting the state security forces in Rolpa on 14 August 2002. He recalls fighting the security forces on December 9, 2001 in Kapurkot of Salyan immediately after he lost his fingers. Ghartimagar had joined the Maoist army in 1998.
During his nine year stint in the party, Ghartimagar also became a platoon vice commander before the Maoists joined peaceful politics in November 2006. Now, he is a member of the Magarat State Committee.
While living in the third division cantonment in Chitwan, Gartimagar passed SLC sent up exam and opted for voluntary retirement. He received Rs 600,000 from the government in voluntary retirement package. Currently, Gharmtimagar runs a grocery shop.
“The party has neglected my sacrifice. So, I´m no more active in party activities,” he says.
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