“After police and local administration remained quiet about the murder, my daughter-in-law has started frequenting astrologers and shamans,” says Jagat’s mother, Parbati, 65. “The local administration is keeping mum because of Maoists.”
An investigation launched by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), has found the Kailali unit of the Maoists is behind Joshi’s murder, who disappeared on October 8 after leaving home for the Attariya market. His body was found on November 28 in a community forest in Malakheti.
“Even when his status was unknown, we visited the astrologers,” says Parbati. “But they couldn’t say anything.”
Following Joshi’s death, the family has been dealing with financial insecurity on top of ongoing acute trauma and pain from the boy’s murder. “Who will take care of us after the sole bread-earner of the family is killed,” says Parbati. “After the murder of his elder brother, Pushparaj has stopped coming home due to the fear of death.” Pushparaj has even dropped his studies.
Parbati is now more concerned about the future of her youngest son, Pushparaj. Kindly neighbors have been giving the bereaved family company during the long nights. Although the government has issued no relief to the family, journalists have provided them with financial assistance, such as Rs 10,000 from the Reporters’ Club.
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