Kapulvastu, Sept 17, It has been 12 years since Kapilvastu carnage took the lives of 14 commoners. It may be noted that 14 people were killed in a violence that broke out following the murder of Abdul Moid Khan, a local leader of the then Terai-Madhes Loktantrik Party, by unidentified group on September 2007.
The dreadful incident did not only claim their lives but also destroyed properties worth Rs 500 million. The incident of robbery and arson accompanied by the gruesome mass murder had put the lives of people in high and dry.
Physical property worth millions of rupees was gutted in the fire incident in course of the escalation of violence at Chandrauta, Krishnanagar, Ganeshpur, Kisanpur and Chanai in Kapilvastu. Around 160 vehicles were put in flame while more than 10,000 citizens were rendered displaced. Every year following the carnage, people are marking Bhadra 30 (September 16) as the black day to commemorate the macabre incident.
In a commemorative programme organized on Monday, Kapilvastu Struggle Committee Chairperson Mahadev Pokharel said, “The adjudication has been deferred dozens of time at the Supreme Court. Where shall we go to seek justice?”. He expressed optimism that the incumbent government would give a feeling of respite and justice to the survivors.
On the occasion, the attendees also wished that such tragedy would never repeat in the history. Chairperson of National Human Rights Foundation Bishnu Prasad Khatiwada criticized the State’s apathy in dispensing justice to the survivors despite 12 years of the carnage.
The survivors had knocked the door of the apex court demanding compensation as per the investigation report of the Mallik Commission after their voice for justice was not heeded. Though a writ petition was filed at the apex court some eight years ago, the hearing is yet to take place.
It may be noted that the then government had formed a probe committee headed by then Justice of Appellate Court Rajbiraj, Lokendra Mallik. The committee had taken three months to prepare and submit a probe report of the incident.
Around Rs 15 million from state coffer was spent for the purpose. However, the report is yet to be made public. Nevertheless, the migration inflow to Chandrauta is on the rise of late. The migration flow here has increased with the placement of special security arrangement in Chandrauta following the incident.
