Kalikot, June 1:

Though seven years have passed since the killings of construction workers in the airport at Kotwada of Kalikot district, the victims’ families have not yet received relief.

Thirty-six workers deployed for the construction of Kotwada Sundharala Airport were shot dead by the security personnel on March 7, 2002, following the Maoist attack at Mangalsen of Achham.

Six workers from Kalikot district, including Gorkha Bahadur Kathayat, Bhim Bahadur Kathayat, Ganga Bahadur Kathayat and Tek Bahadur Bist of Kotwada-3, 17 from Jogimara of

Dhading district and 13 from Sindhuli and Ramechhap districts were killed in the attack.

“Though we visited the District Administration Office several times with the hope of getting relief, we have not received any kind of relief yet,” the families of the victims said.

Rita Devi, 45, wife of Gorkha Bahadur, said she was finding it difficult to raise and educate

her children.

Puspa Kathayat, mother of Ganga Bahadur Kathayat, said, “I am old and there is no one at home to look after me. Though many people of the village got money in the name of displaced, nobody has provided relief to me.”

Some relatives of people killed by the Maoists got some relief, however, families of the victims killed by the state have not got any kind of relief yet, the Kalikot District Administration Office said.

The victims’ families lamented that the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction has not done anything for their welfare.