Miscellaneous
Injured former combatants flocking to PMO for support
After former supreme commander of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army Pushpa Kamal Dahal became the prime minister for a second time, those injured during the decade-long armed conflict have been flocking to the PM’s Office demanding support for treatment.Tika R Pradhan
After former supreme commander of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army Pushpa Kamal Dahal became the prime minister for a second time, those injured during the decade-long armed conflict have been flocking to the PM’s Office demanding support for treatment.
Every day a number of the injured former combatants approach the PMO seeking support for their treatment, said PM Dahal’s chief Public Relations Adviser Ramdip Acharya.
Laxmi Darji, 35, coming all the way from Kailali along with her daughter, has filed an application at the PMO pleading for cure for the bullet she carries in her waist. She had received the bullet in a cross-fire with the security forces at Khimodi of Kailali district on April 28, 2002. She was referred to the Trauma Centre of Bir Hospital by the PMO.
Another injured, Birendra Bahadur Bhandara of Phapre VDC-2 in Kalikot has also applied for support for the treatment of his injured limbs. He said Dahal has assured him of help.
Acharya, who recently assumed office, said the PMO was also trying to help other needy who were injured during other political movements.
“PM Dahal, after consultation with Health Minister Gagan Thapa, has decided to send all those injured combatants for treatment to Bir Hospital, which may refer the cases to other hospitals within the country or abroad for further treatment if required,” Acharya said.
The PMO would collect the data on the unregistered ex-combatants and provide them with identity cards within a month.
Around three dozen injured former combatants had met Dahal at his official residence in Baluwatar on August 25, demanding a raise in their allowances. Since then, other injured people are approaching the PMO for support.
Bir Bahadur Raut, secretary of the Injured Disabled Combatants Association Nepal, said around 4,800 of those injured during the conflict and the subsequent People’s Movement have been registered.
While they are getting allowances from the government, more than 2,000 with serious injuries are yet to be registered.