Wife meets husband after 20 years of his abduction

Rajkumar Bhattarai,Khotang, July 5: During the armed conflict, Udaya Bahadur Khadka of Khotang was abducted by rebel forces and had been missing for 20 years. The man, who disappeared after the abduction, has now been reunited with his wife after 20 years.

In December 2003, cadres of the then CPN (Maoist) abducted Khadka, 53, from Chisapani Khuta in Jantedhunga Rural Municipality-5, and his wife Punyamaya Basnet (Khadka) met him on July 1. Udaya Bahadur was found in Shillong, Meghalaya, India, a week ago and was brought to Biratnagar on June 30. 

After arriving in Biratnagar, Udaya Bahadur, who was staying at his brother Resham Bahadur Khadka’s house, was visited by his wife there. Since the abduction, Udaya Bahadur had not been in contact with his family. 

Milan Rai, who is originally from Salpasilichho Rural Municipality in Bhojpur and currently working in Meghalaya, found Udaya Bahadur near the jungle and posted his picture on Facebook on June 24. Details about how Udaya Bahadur reached Shillong after being abducted by CPN (Maoist) cadres are still unknown.

Udaya Bahadur, who was found in an unhealthy state in Shillong, was admitted to the emergency ward of Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar on July 2 with the efforts of his neighbour and Congress Jantedhunga Rural Municipality Chairman Bajindra Bista. He is suffering from pneumonia, a foul-smelling breath, a persistent cough, and incontinence.

Udaya Bahadur and Punyamaya had two sons and two daughters. 

When Udaya Bahadur was abducted, their youngest son Suraj was only seven months old. Among their four children, their eldest son Anil passed away four years ago. Daughters Srijana and Sushila have settled in their own homes, and the youngest son Suraj went to Dubai for employment four months ago. 

The eldest son Anil, who was living in Jambodanda, Kathmandu, was found dead in hanging condition under suspicious circumstances on April 14, 2019. 

Punyamaya, who had to separate from her husband during her post-partum period, had been living alone in her old age. Despite being conflict victims, Udaya Bahadur’s family has not received any support from the state, according to relative Shyam Sundar Karki.

Based on a complaint of domestic violence under the influence of alcohol, CPN (Maoist) cadres had fastened both his hands and taken him from his house. 

After being taken from his home, his family had no idea where the cadres took or left Udaya Bahadur. 

There had been many speculations about whether Udaya Bahadur was alive or dead. His family had lost hope, but Udaya Bahadur was found alive in India.

Before the abduction, CPN (Maoist) cadres had beaten Udaya Bahadur at the courtyard, warning him to change his behaviour and habit. After he went missing, Punyamaya was provided with a single woman allowance for one and a half years.

It is learnt that Udaya Bahadur had been working as a labourer in Shillong to make a living. After experiencing health issues, he was evicted from his rental place. Having no place to stay, he had been living in a coal pit near the jungle for the past three months. 

During the conflict period, Udaya Bahadur’s brother Resham Bahadur was also displaced. Despite leaving his job with the Nepal Police, Resham Bahadur was forced to migrate to Biratnagar.