Lal Bahadur Budha joined the Maoist Party in 2001 when he was just 14. After receiving basic army training in Kalikot, he became a combatant and fought for the party for several years.

He later became a platoon commander of the then People’s Liberation Army. In 2003, he sustained bullet injury during Ghagal attack. Since then, he has been living with the bullet shrapnel in his head after doctors at Bir Hospital told him that it cannot be removed.

Lal Bahadur’s wife Srijana Baral was also a Maoist combatant. They both were verified as Maoist combatants in the first phase. She said when they were on a holiday trip to Mujabagar, Achham, in 2007, health condition of her husband deteriorated and they could not return to the camp.

“The Maoist leaders and combatants neglected us,” Srijana said, adding that they were also denied identity cards meant for the conflict victims.

They said they started running a hotel after returning to Mujabagar in 2009. “We borrowed money to operate hotel and have not been able to pay back yet,” Lal Bahadur said, adding that some of his friends were benefited both from the party as well as the government. Stating that he is left injured and without support, Lal Bahadur said there have not been any big changes in the country even after the new constitution is promulgated. He, however, wished that no one had to suffer as much as he did.