Parents of deceased U-13 ANFA Academy students continue fight for justice

Kathmandu, Nov. 20: Floods and landslides wreaked havoc throughout the country in September end (September 26-28) as over 200 people lost their lives. Of them, six U-13 children living at the ANFA Academy in Sisneri, Makwanpur, died in a landslide on September 28.

The six children who died in the disaster were Priyans Acharya, Anupam Ghalan, Bikal Regmi, Saimon Yonjan, Aditya Balampaki and Diwas Baniya. 

After the incident, the parents of the six deceased children have been knocking on the doors of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), Ministry of Youth and Sports, Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, Home Minister, senior political leaders and human rights activists.

“However, despite reaching every important place and meeting influential people and concerned stakeholders, our demands have not been met,” said Kamala Regmi, mother of Bikal.

Kamala was finding it difficult to hold her frustration over the negligence shown by the authorities when the parents of the six deceased children organised a press meet in the capital city of Kathmandu on Tuesday.

“The ANFA officials are pressing to receive the compensation of Rs. 800,000 each for all the parents. Do they believe that our children were worth a meagre Rs. 800,000? They were aiming to represent the country and make us proud. They have not died as a result of disaster but negligence from the caretakers,” Kamala added.

The ANFA had kept 40 children at the Sisneri-based Football Academy operated in coordination with Batsaladevi Secondary School. 

As per the ANFA, the six children went missing in a landslide while trying to relocate the Academy children to a safe place at 6:30 am amidst incessant rain. 

“They did not take our children to a safer place. There were no senior individuals with children who were below 13 years old. There has been negligence from the school management committee, ANFA and Academy officials,” said Hem Bahadur Yonjan, father of Saimon. 

The parents also accused the Academy of feeding stale food to the children and keeping them in a place where there was no proper facility of water.  

“I earn a livelihood by loading/unloading wood, timber and pebbles. When my son was selected from the central selection of ANFA, he told me that the ANFA would now take care of his food, lodging, education and football. I could not stop him because he was extremely happy about getting selected. I then took him to the Sisneri-based Academy on May 19,” said Kamala. 

Meanwhile, according to Kamala, she was asked to pay money under several topics by the Academy recently. 

“The Academy also asked me to pay for my brother’s stay and education despite he was a selected player. I have deposited Rs. 1,600 as school development fees, over Rs. 11,000 in the account of Januka Shahi Thakuri as bedding charges and others. Similarly, I also sent Rs. 4,500 as fees for dress,” said Bharat Thapa, brother of deceased Aditya. 

Moreover, the parents also denounced the investigation committee formed by the ANFA to probe the incident. “How can we believe in the investigation by the officials of the same authority that we are blaming for the incident?” questioned Lalita Ghalan, mother of Anupam.

“I have lost my only child. He wanted to do something for the country but now the country has shown its back after his demise. I do not seek money or compensation. We all devastated families only demand justice. We do not want authorities to keep children under poor guidance. I will not stop fighting until I get justice. I will be sitting at ANFA Complex or, if necessary, even begin a hunger strike,” Lalita stressed.

The families of the six deceased children have demanded an independent high-level probe committee to investigate the incident and submit a fair report.