Lamjung, October 14:

Aggrieved families of 28 persons, who were disappeared by the state and the Maoists during the 11-year-old long armed conflict, said Dashain and Tihar hold nothing for them.

“Our heart is heavy with pain, eyes full of tears. We are always suffering. How can we enjoy Dashain and Tihar in such a situation?” 28-year-old Sakuntala Poudyal of Jita-9 said. “I am finding it difficult to fund the education of my two sons and a daughter,” she said, appealing to the government to provide free education to her children and a job for her.” Her husband Ramesh Poudyal was arrested by the security forces on March 25, 2001 and disappeared since then.

Santa Bahadur Rimal, 46, of Chandisthan-8 said Maoists abducted his son Ram Kumar Rimal from Khudi — and disappeared him — because he wanted to join the Nepal Army.

No different is the story of 34-year-old Parbati Kattel, of Bhajhtirtha-6. According to Kattel, security forces spirited her husband away on April 1, 2002. “Financial condition is pathetic. I have to support my father-in-law and mother-in-law. What if festivals are round the bend? I don’t feel the excitement,” she said.

Bishnu Adhikari of Bhalamkharka-3, Lila Raj Kattel of Bhajhtirtha-6, Shukra Bahadur Pariya of Bhajhtirtha-7, Dhruv Tiwari of Chiti-9, Ramesh Poudyal of Jita-9, Dev Raj Poudyal of Jita-9, Krishna Bahadur Basnet of Suryapal-5, Toya Nath Pokharel of Bhalayakarka-3, Tirtha Raj Ghimire of Bhalayakharka-3, Dal Bahadur Bhujel of Bharate-7, Mukti Kumar Shrestha of Bhorletar-7 are among those disappeared by the state. The Maoists disappeared Raj Kumar Rimal of Chandisthan-8 and Min Rashi Gurung of Bansar, INSEC representative Krishna Adhikari said. However, the Social Judicial Committee said 28 persons remain disappeared.