KAILALI: A team led by People's Liberation Army deputy commander Chandradev Khanal 'Baldev' bade farewell to outgoing PLA fighters with abir (vermillion powder) and garlands while tears rolled down the cheeks of some PLA combatants.

The sorrow of separation from their fellow comrades was more than evident. Someone's voice was occluding and some were seen embracing their friends. Many women, who were carrying their infants, were crying. This was the scene today in the Kailali-based Seventh Division of the PLAs.

However, more than the sorrow, there was discontent writ large on faces of outgoing combatants. "The government played foul and did injustice. Our movement is yet to complete," Srijan, one of the outgoing combatants said. Srijan had already served as a PLA fighter for six years. "What do we do in the village after returning," he asked.

Further, most of the minors were saying that firstly, the government and secondly, their party betrayed them. "The state outlawed us while our party leaders could not defend us," a fighter seeking anonymity said, adding, "I have understood the country's politics. Leaders want nothing but posts and they use people like us for that."

A security guard of former minister Lekharaj Bhatta is also one of the disqualified in the Seventh Division. He said UNMIN was biased in the verification of the combatants. Similarly, many other outgoing fighters blamed UNMIN. "UNMIN was also not just," outgoing fighter Sumitra Rokaya said, adding, "I fought for years for the nation but am returning home, disqualified."

Pamasla, a resident of Achham district, also expressed dissatisfaction as she was disqualified while her husband was not. "We joined the PLA together but I am disqualified and leaving with our baby," she said.

Likewise, Rasmi Shahi of Mugu also complained of injustice. Her husband Kishor Shahi, however, qualified during UNMIN's verification. Shahi, a mother of an infant, said her party did the right thing for her but the state did not.

Some 223 males and 112 females bade adieu amidst a function at the seventh division today. Most women were carrying their babies. A statement issued by UNMIN said 135 disqualified fighters were not present during the function. Some 3, 323 combatants were declared qualified and 470 were disqualified during UNMIN's verification in 2007.

The farewell function was chaired by Seventh Division commander Santu Darai, while PLA deputy commander Baldev was the chief guest. Former minister Lekharaj Bhatta and other UCPN-M politburo members Top Prakash KC, Haribhakta Kandel and Dharmendra Bastola, UCPN-M central members Khagaraj Bhatta and Jagat Parki, UN representative Robert Piper and government representatives were also present at the farewell function.