Dev Singh Dhami, 43, of Shailyashikhar Municipality-1, who was displaced during the armed conflict, has obtained Nepali citizenship from the District Administration Office, Darchula. Dhami, who was displaced at 17 during the conflict, received citizenship after 22 years based on the recommendation of the ward office.
Dhami returned to his resident area in March. Ward Chairperson Bharat Bahadur Khadayat had taken the initiative to help him obtain citizenship. Dhami, who had absconded to India after facing torture from the then CPN-Maoist, decided to acquire his citizenship upon returning to the village. After receiving his citizenship, Dhami expressed his desire to rebuild his life in his Rural Municipality. He mentioned that the conflict had ended and that the situation in the area was no longer the same as before. Having spent years in a foreign land, he questioned how long one could continue living away from home. Now that he has returned from India, he shared his intention to live peacefully with his family and requested support from all sides and the government for his resettlement. At the time, Dhami was brutally beaten nearly to death on the accusation of being an informant. He still flinches at the thought that the Maoists might abuse him again. He spent much of his life working as a laborer in India. Due to his displacement, he lost his newlywed wife. His father and brother still reside in the Terai. He shared that it’s difficult to describe all the hardships he faced while living away from his place. However, he said that if he is allowed to live in peace now, he is determined to spend the rest of his life here through labor. He has requested the government to provide relief and compensation for his rehabilitation. Dhami expressed happiness after receiving his citizenship from the District Administration Office. The ward office had supported him in obtaining citizenship.
Ward Chairperson Khadayat informed that they assisted him in reaching the District Administration Office to complete the process. He stated that if Dhami wishes to live in the Rural Municipality, the ward office will extend its support. He further mentioned that the ward will make every possible effort to help him lead a resettled life. Chief District Officer Yagyaraj Joshi stated that after Dhami submitted the ward’s recommendation letter to the administration, the citizenship was promptly granted.