Wednesday (19 April 2006): It was the day when three martyrs sacrificed their life for the sake of country’s prosperous future.
Since there was curfew imposed by the autocratic royal regime from 2:00am inside the ring road that encircles the Kathmandu Valley, there was no way for me to go to office. Besides media houses, ambulances and human rights activists were not issued curfew passes.
As it was impossible for my other office members to go for reporting, it was my moral to cover the incident going around Kalanki, the western part of the Valley, though I was not expected to do so.
Parking my scooter at Naikap, at my friend’s place for safety, I walked all the way to Kalanki, where, I was greeted by a huge pass. Since there were no human rights activists, reporters and photojournalists, royal puppets seemed more aggressive without any reasons.
The masses of about 200,000 coming from western suburbs of the valley were protesting peacefully and they hadn’t tried to go beyond the security lane. Since they had already defied curfew they did not had to intervene security forces which had just been observing the peaceful demonstration.
One of the leaders said that they would try to go further only after 2:00pm. But some vigilante pulled people who were sitting in the straight row in the peaceful manner. Neither the mass had stoned the security personals nor had they tried to push the security lane. But the security force led by SSP Durje Kumar Rai suddenly charged on people. After latthi charge they fired rounds of tear gas and robber bullets indiscriminately.
Despite being a journalist I was threatened and chased away from the site. I was along with protesters towards down side of the highway. And I could see police beating people to death. They were charging people entering into the private houses. That was when I could not refrain myself from shouting at the security force.
I made a loud sound and shouted at security personals, with the hope that they would leave the person. At least a dozen of security personals were brutally beating a single demonstrator. But I had no jacket (indicating press), which could have at least made them think twice before making him unconscious.
Since I had no jacket written press I was threatened, I could have been shot anytime for trying to reach to the road. I went further ahead showing my ID. Despite seeing the ID they verbally abused me. They were ready to charge on me saying “If u are a journalist why did you ran away?” I need not think it necessary to give explanation since it was the same force that had chased me out of site earlier.
But I dared come up. And when I moved a little ahead, I could see many photojournalists including foreigners. Slowly started seeing reporters as well. I gained courage as I saw some known faces. But for yet another time Durje Kumar ordered us (me, photojournalists of Himalayan times, Samaya, Kantipur among few other reporters) remain beyond the sight. He threatened journalist not to take photographs.
The mass had already scattered. Soon after a white helicopter took round the area SSP hiding him behind a petrol pump shot people with his pistol leaving at least one spot death. Quite a number of people had received bullet injuries and a large number including children and women were unconscious due to excessive latthi.
But there were not yet any ambulances and rights defenders to rescue people from the pool of blood. After people started collapsing on the spot Rai ran away from the battlefield making other inspectors control the force.
Slowly ambulance and rights defenders started emerging around the site. One body was lying aside me. Police was not giving the body to the rights defenders. But the rights defenders requested to take the body claim chances of survival provided proper treatment. He had received bullet in his chest. About 100 meter ahead there was another body being carried in white cotton.
Ambulances continued carrying injured for about an hour.
Young boys were so aggressive that they started stoning at security personals. Nawaraj Poudel, one of the protesters was challenging security to shoot at his chest. “We general people are nothing for you all. Kill every one of us,” Poudel with his eyes full of tears was challenging police.
Protesters urged security to hand over the dead bodies, which they had hidden. They were saying that beating killed some of the protesters and the security personnel hid them. Which included a child and a mother. Ambulances carrying both dead bodies and injured people were still seen around.
My biggest concern now is should Durja Kumar Rai, the cause of the death of at least three people roam around freely? Shouldn’t he be punished for his brutal act?
Dear all, who love this country and has respect towards our brave martyrs, I request all of you to react on his brutal and inhuman act so that we can take action against him after we achieve full democracy with our new constitution.
LONG LIVE OUR MARTYRS !!
– Sangeeta Rijal
