Dhangadhi, February 21:

The whereabouts of Asharam Chaudhari, who was arrested by the then Royal Nepalese Army four years ago, are still unknown, relatives said.

A patrolling team of the army had arrested Chaudhari, a resident of Baisapur at Parewa village development committee in Kailali district, from the Attariya bazaar in September 11, 2003.

Seeking the release of Chaudhari, relatives went to the Teghari barracks time and again. Army personnel stationed there said he had not been kept in the barracks.

A soldier who knew Chaudhari told the relatives that he had been kept in the Teghari barracks. Krishna Dayal Chaudhari, Asharam’s brother, who visited the barracks in October and November last year, said: “I saw my brother in the garden inside the barracks. I requested the soldiers to let me meet him, but they turned down my request.”

“I requested the Dhangadhi-based Overall Development Centre to facilitate the release of my brother. Ramesh Basnet, chairman of the centre, went to the Teghari barracks to inquire about the status of Asharam. The barracks informed that Asharam had been shifted to Dhankuta district,” said Krishna Dayal.

Asharam talked over telephone with Ramesh and his relatives. “He was eager to return home and lamented that the Army was preventing him from returning home,” Ramesh said.

“As suggested, we went to a place in Dhankuta to meet him, but to no avail. We then met lieutenant Niraj Pradhan at the Bhedetar Tower.

Pradhan said no person named Asharam had been kept at the place,” Basnet said, adding: “We do not know why the army is not releasing him? Perhaps, senior army officers have been employing him as as a domestic worker,” Basnet said.