Maoists harassing woman for asking about missing husband

SURKHET, Dec 22: After receiving a death-threat from a district-level leader of the UCPN (Maoists), 35-year-old Ramkumari KC had to relocate out of Dailekh district.



She has been living with her parents in Dailekh for last three years in a bid to escape the wrath of the Maoists, who have been after her for asking her missing husband´s whereabouts. [break]District Joint Secretary of the party Krishna Prasad Jaisi allegedly threatened her that they would throw a grenade at her house and finish her off.



Talking to journalists in Birendranager, KC said Jaisi was after her as the news about her missing husband Jayaprasad and the involvement of Jaisi among others in his disappearance was covered in several media including the Nagarik daily.



Jaisi strictly warned her to shut up or be ready for the consequences. He said this after returning from the police custody where he spent one night for threatening KC. Following the media coverage, Jaisi even threatened to kill journalist Govinda KC. This scribe has also received threatenings from him.



According to KC, the Maoists had taken away her husband from his bed on January 9, 2006, suspecting him to be a spy. After the peace process began, she started to seek her husband´s whereabouts. "But each time I asked about his condition, they warned me to keep quiet," KC said.



But the wife would not stay quiet on the matter and repeated threats by the Maoists forced her to leave the place forever. She has been living in her maternal house in Narayan Nagarpalika - 6 in Dailekh for three years.



"I have pleaded many Maoists leaders to speak the truth about my husband, but they reply harshly and say I would not get even the compensation if I try to open my mouth," said the victim. She met the party´s district joint in-charge Karna Basnet and another leader Chhavi Karki several times.



"But they never listen to me. The district administration and the human rights organizations have not paid any heed to my complaints," KC complained.



The district leadership of the party is openly siding with the accused. Talking to Republica, district in-charge Thir Bahadur Karki said the KC story is not genuine. "If she is right, why didn´t she try for justice earlier," he asked.



The unknown condition of her husband and the responsibility of four children between 5 and 13 years have made life very tough for KC.

Related story

Justice delivery ineffective due to lack of legal awareness