In June 2004, Krishna Adhikari was dragged from his home in Phujel of Gorkha district, taken to Chitwan, and killed by the Maoists. Krishna’s parents Nanda Prasad and Ganga Maya spent years going from one office to another seeking justice for their son. When no one bothered to listen, they travelled to Kathmandu in January this year and began a hunger strike in front of the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar. They were illegally detained by the police for 48 days and sent back to Gorkha.

Despite Ganga Maya’s deteriorating health, the couple returned and started another hunger strike in front of Bir hospital. But four days ago, the Adhikaris were manhandled by the police and dumped at Patan Mental Hospital. “We refused eat until we got justice, but they force-fed us fruits under the effect of anaesthetics,” says Nanda Prasad, who only woke up on Wednesday after they were first taken to the hospital. “We had bruises all over our body and we are in a lot of pain.”

Expect for administering the daily shots of anaesthetics, no one at the hospital bothers to look after the old couple. In 2007, Gorkha police drove the Adhikaris away from their home, after which their house and land were captured by the Maoists. After the Maoists found out that the two are in Kathmandu, they threatened the lodge owner who asked them to leave. “We had to change hotels,” says Nanda Prasad. “Because of Maoist pressure, were driven back to Gorkha, locked there, and later brought to Kathmandu.”

Krishna gave his SLC exams from Chitwan in 2003. He was killed when was home to see his results. In their FIR application, the Adhikaris have named Januka Poudel, Chhabilal Poudel, Kali Prasad Adhikari, Baburam Adhikari, Ram Prasad Adhikari, and Shiva Prasad Adhikari responsible for their son’s murder.

Rupesh Acharya, Annapurna Post, 20 June

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