ITAHARI:Santosh Chaudhari, 14, is still reliving the trauma. The young lad simply cannot forget the moment he got injured three years ago.

The incident occurred when the Nepali Army personnel at the Eastern Divisional headquarters in Itahari fired at him inadvertently during a training session. He had sustained injuries in his stomach. Though the injury healed a while ago, the psychological scars still

remain.

“Physically he may’ve recovered, but mentally he is not well. He still cries in the middle of the night,” said his father Chedilal.

Two daughters of Devika Bhujel, a resident of Dharan Municipality-14, are also suffering from a similar problem.

Sandipa and Dipika were injured in a mine explosion on February 8, 2006. Sandipa was injured in the right knee and Dipika in her cheek.

“Sandipa cannot move her right knee. While, Dipika twists and turns in her sleep. They are living in constant fear. I’m concerned about their future,” said Devika.

Dinesh Sardar, a resident of Khanar in Sunsari, was injured in a blast on March 11, 2007. He lost his toe and the other fingers in the foot in the incident. “I’m now afraid to venture out,” he said.

Mala Karki, 14, a resident of Panchkanya VDC-Deurali in Sunsari district, was hurt in the cross-fire between the Maoists and security personnel during the decade-long insurgency.

Data available with the Land Mine Prohibition Campaign, Nepal, suggests that 11 children were hurt in such explosions in Sunsari district during the Maoists’ armed struggle.

The organisation maintained that a majority of the children was mentally ill. However, neither the government nor the NGOs are working for their welfare.

“Nobody pays attention to their mental health,” added Chedilal.

The affected guardians have urged the government to destroy landmines to save children’s lives.

“The government should look into their mental wellness,” said Dr Minakshi Nepal, a psychologist.