CHITWAN, Feb 29: UCPN -Maoist Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal, who had pledged that he would visit Madi in Chitwan in person to apologize to the locals for the Badarmudhe incident, finally reached there six years later, Thursday.
Fulfilling a long-standing promise to apologize for what is considered one of the greatest mistakes the Maoists committed during their insurgency, Chairman Dahal on Thursday said sorry on behalf of his party before the Madi locals and announced a Rs 6 million relief package for the victim of the heinous incident. [break]
During the conflict era, the then rebel Maoists had ambushed a public bus at Badarmude of Chitwan district, causing huge loss of life. Immediately after the incident, Dahal as the head of the insurgent party, had apologized, saying it was a mistake.
Similarly, while making his first public appearance after abandoning his underground life to announce cessation of the armed conflict, Dahal, on June 16, 2006, had promised that he would visit Madi in person to apologize to the Badermudhe victims.
“I could arrive here only six year after my promise,” said Dahal addressing the locals after inaugurating the Madi Festival. The victims of the Madi incident had prepared a protest program after learning that Dahal was visiting.
However, the victims could not stage any protest as Krishna Adhikari, one of the victims, who was entrusted with making the preparations for the protest, was taken under control by the administration.
“He promised relief but we still have reservations he will really provide the relief amount,” said Adhikari.
What is the Badarmude incident?
The then Maoist rebels ambushed a public bus crammed with local commuters on July 6, 2005, at Badarmudhe of Chitwan district, killing 38 people. Another 72 sustained severe injuries in the bomb blast. Among the injured, seven are yet to recuperate while dozens of others required amputations and lengthy hospitalization.
The victims of the incident have been demanding that the perpetrators be made public and a memorial built in the name of those killed.
The victims are yet to receive relief and support from the government even seven years after the incident, although the Maoists themselves have led the government twice in the meantime.
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