25 years after Khara incident, victims awaiting justice

By Raju Lamichhane,Rukum West, Feb. 24: Twenty-five years have passed since the killing of 15 people and turning an entire Khara village into ashes during the armed conflict period. 

Victims of the incident that occurred on February 22, 2000, lament that they have spent 25 years waiting for justice. 

Khara lies in Ward No. 4 of Tribeni Rural Municipality in Rukum West. 

Seventy-one-year-old Rati Oli, who lost her husband, eldest son, and nephew in the incident, said that she has still not received justice. 

Her husband Tribhan, eldest son Dhan Bahadur and nephew Lal Bahadur, along with seven others from Kural village, were lined up and shot dead by security forces. 

Recalling the tragic moment, Rati said, “They were lined up in the courtyard and shot. We survived by hiding under a banana tree. My second son was beaten severely and thrown into a steam, assuming he was dead.” 

“Since that day, my life has been overshadowed by sorrow. The government provided Rs.100,000 as a relief to the families of the deceased, but no justice was given for the killing of innocent people,” she said.

On the same day, seven more people were killed in Pokhari village of Khara. 

Tara Khadka, who was in her mother’s womb when her father was murdered, shared that she has lived 25 years in darkness. 

“I was four months in my mother’s womb when my father was killed,” she said. “When will my mother’s tears stop, and when will we get justice?” she asked. 

A total of 15 people were killed on the same day, seven in Pokhari village, seven in Kural and one in Haibang. 

Sita Oli, a leader of the Nepali Congress and the then-chairperson of the former Khara Village Development Committee, said that 15 civilians were murdered. 

According to her, Tribhan Oli, who was the ward committee president of the Nepali Congress at the time, was killed by security personnel despite his repeated pleas. He insisted that he was not part of the then-rebel party but a member of the Nepali Congress, yet they ignored his words and shot him dead.

Along with the killings, the entire village was set on fire. She remarked that the brutality inflicted by the state party that day was unforgettable. 

Accusing the villagers of sheltering the then-rebellion party Maoists, security personnel set houses, cow sheds and water mills on fire. 

According to Oli, about 86 houses and sheds were destroyed.

Victim Birjit Damai informed that his house and cowsheds were burned to the ground at the time, yet he has not received any relief. 

He added that he has now lost hope of ever receiving compensation. Most victims have not yet received the relief they deserve, with only a few receiving minimal assistance at the time. “The majority are still waiting for justice,” he added. 

Tribeni Rural Municipality Chairperson Ganesh Bahadur KC said despite the pleas of innocent civilians, they were lined up and shot dead and their homes were burned to the ground. 

The victims remain without justice or adequate compensation due to delays from the responsible authorities.

According to the data from the District Administration Office, a total of 665 people lost their lives due to the conflict in the former Rukum district.