Victims of ‘mistaken’ Maoist blast allege neglect by ex-rebels
Posted by barunroy on June 6, 2008
NEPAL-VICTIMS (RPT) (INTERNATIONAL)
Created on : 06/06/2008 19:55 (PRI)
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Kathmandu, Jun 6 (PTI) Victims of a blast conducted by Maoists in 2003 by “mistake”, which killed 34 and injured 73 people, have alleged neglect on the part of former rebels in providing them compensation even after they joined mainstream.
The blast, triggered in a passenger bus through a landmine in Badarmudhe area of Chitwan district in central Nepal, is regarded as one of the greatest tragedies of the decade-long Maoist insurgency.
After the incident the Maoists had apologised for the blast saying that it was their mistake. Maoist chief Prachanda, who has repeatedly promised to compensate the victims, also never visited the village where the incident occurred, victims alleged.
The victims today also unveiled a memorial with the names of all those killed and injured inscripted on it.
It was inaugurated by Nam Prasad Subedi, one of the victims who lost six members of his family in the incident.
The memorial was built at (Nepali) Rs 4,00,000, of which Nepal Army’s Purano Gorkha battalion contributed Rs 2,50,000, the rest being donated by locals. However, people demanded proper compensation for the victims’ family members and medical expenses for the injured.
Twelve of the seriously injured are still lying in hospital bed for treatment, they said.
The victims complained that even after the Maoists came to the mainstream, they neglected them for providing compensation and treatment. PTI SBP GD GD 06062001 DEL
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