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Sindhupalchwok

Sita Basnet, who used to live in the then Pipaldanda Village Development Community-2, Pindaluwari, and currently living in Chautara Sagachokgadi Municipality-6, deals with her loneliness every single day. He had a son and a daughter. The son is in the Nepali army, while the daughter committed suicide nine years ago by hanging herself from the house’s balcony. Her Husband Krishna Bahadur Basnet was a police officer.

Basnet was stationed at Maharajgunj in Kathmandu and had come home on leave to visit his family at that time. When the rebels organized the protests, there was a curfew preventing the movement of vehicles. When his leave was over and the day came for him to report for duty. Krishna Bahadur decided to travel to Kathmandu on foot, to report to duty.

On the morning of 25 February 2005, set off from his home. On the way to Kathmandu, a group of Maoists found and captured Basnetlai at Mane Bhanjyang, Sabik Sagachok VDC- 4 at 7 am. Basnet was accompanied by two other friends, he was abducted by the Maoists on the charge of being a police officer, while the other two were sent back home.

Although the Maoists issued a press release on 27 June 2006 saying that ASI Krishna Bahadur Basnet, who was under Maoist capture, was beaten to death, it did not mention the whereabouts of him or his dead body. The statement issued by Maoist lacks details about the nature of the incident.

Sita Basnet refuses to believe that her husband was killed. She is still waiting for her husband’s return. During the conversation with the INSEC representative, on 17 May 2023, she said that the argument that the present government is trying to bring about a general amnesty for the incidents of conflict through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is unjust.

During the meeting, Sita said she can die in peace only after the person who abducted her husband is punished. She mentioned, ‘I have filed a complaint against the perpetrators  in the Disappearance Commission.’

Kul Bahadur Basnet’s brother, during his search for his brother Maoists, met the Maoists group, who were responsible for his brother’s abduction,  at  Melchaur in Sanosiruwari.

They slapped Kul Bahadur twice and turned him away. Sita Basnet then traveled to Jalkina three days after the incident, to look for her husband. On reaching there, she was sent back by the rebel group saying that he will be released tomorrow. Meanwhile, Kul Bahadur reports seeing his brother lying on the ground with a blindfold and both hands tied behind his back, during one of his visits to the rebel group to request for his brother’s return.

Kul Bahadur recalls not being able to contact his brother, as Maoists surrounded him and assured him that they will send his brother back home the next day. Kul Bahadur returned home the same day, hoping that his brother returns home soon. He said that the assurance given to Kul Bahadur by the Maoists was not fulfilled, but instead, they reported his death in a statement released on 27 June 2006. Sita Basnet came to know about the statement on 17 July 2006.

Relatives who reported seeing Krishna Bahadur Basnet in the hands of the Maoists never saw him again. Sita Basnet went to Manebhanjyang three times to see if she could meet her husband after March 1, but still, was not able to know about the whereabouts of her husband.

Three years after the incident, Sita Basnet met the INSEC District representative by chance. Sita was struggling to find support and relief regarding the disappearance of her husband. INSEConline published a news report regarding Sita’s husband. After informing the district administration, police office, and other related agencies about the publication, arrangements were made to arrange cooperation from all parties, to ensure basic facilities and relief for Sita Basnet and her family.

- Natibabu Dhital