Dharan, April 2:

The fifty-eight families of Haripur-2, who were displaced from their villages following the attack of Madhesi Tigers cadres, have demanded compensation from the government.

The families were displaced after the Madhesi Tigers cadres terrorised the village and killed Tek Bahadur Kunwar, a cattle trader of Haripur-2, on September 23, 2007.

The displaced are leading miserable lives under plastic huts at Bange of Bharaul VDC in Sunsari district. The displaced complained that the government was not providing any relief to them.

Hasta Bahadur Tamang, 70, one of the displaced villagers, said that he was having difficulties sustaining his 14 member family.

“Despite our repeated requests to the government to provide us with compensation, nothing has been done yet ,” he said. He also said that they would return to their homes if the government provided adequate security.

Another displaced Tika Limbu said that the government should resettle them, by arranging security for them, at the earliest.

“The government only addresses the demands of those people who call bandhs and strikes. However, it fails to address the problems of people like us who have been displaced more than a year,” another displaced Dil Kumar Rai said.

“The government only holds talks with the violent agitators but fails to address the demands of suffering people like us,” Gita Majhi regretted.

Meanwhile, Sunsari CDO Hari Krishna Upadhyay said he had no information about the displaced.

Stating that he assumed the office only recently, Upadhyay said he would gather necessary information about the displaced and take action accordingly.