KIRAN PANDAY

CHITWAN-Life for villagers in this district has not changed. Despite the ceasefire, they live in constant fear. They are forced to provide food and shelter to the Maoist militia, which has been mobilising its armed soldiers and working to expand its force. More than 100 Maoist soldiers in combat dress live in Padampur VDC where they have been actively holding indoctrination programs. This is happening despite the code of conduct of 26 May in which the Maoists and government agreed to not mobilise their armies or display arms to avoid spreading terror among civilians. The code also stresses that neither the Maoist nor the government army should appear in uniform with weapons at political events, mass assemblies and meetings. But the Maoists in Padampur even organised a program inside the premises of Bhimodya Primary School with their uniforms and weapons. The interaction programs are held by the 'C' company of the 11th battalion of Basu Memorial Brigade, which is headed by Pradip. The Maoists say they are merely following the directive of their leaders to mingle with locals and share their ideology. Platoon joint commander Nischal denies that the people are afraid of Maoists with arms and uniforms. But Tika Thapa, a local villager, has a different opinion. "We have to feed them and provide shelter whether out of fear or not." The Jana Sarkar's Tanka Regmi, who goes by the name Gorkhali, says that the party has divided the Chitwan area into three sections: base area, expansion area and struggle area and that there is a battalion of 450 Maoists mobilised there.