Ramu Malla of Rupandehi Debdaha (see pic) has been so badly traumatised after being subject to of a 'people's court' 'action' that he is in now in Bhairahawa Medical College Hospital. Malla, charged with polygamy by the Maoists last month, was locked up for three days and beaten regularly. "They took me to the middle of the forest and beat me up, then they kept me for three days and threatened to kill me if I talked," Malla said, showing us his bruised body. His mother Bishnu Kumari said that the Maoists have threatened to kill the entire family if Malla's story appeared in local newspaper or on radio. When a group of journalists reached the hospital later that month, she hid herself in the wards.
Ramu is suffering from what looks like post-traumatic stress disorder. He faints at the mention of homeand mumbles all day, "I am not going home because they will kill me there." The doctors suggested taking him to Kathmandu for treatment because his mental condition was deteriorating day by day but the family doesn't have the money for the trip.
On the people's court's allegations: Malla married Batti Kumari of Nawalparasi Harkataki six years ago. He married again this past May to a woman from Rupandehi. Ramu says he was separated from his first wife and had promised her half his property, as per Nepali law. The Maoists deny that they have a people's court in the region and that they abducted and tortured Malla. Rupandehi's Maoist secretary, Madhab Sharma, says that other forces disguised as Maoists are responsible. "If you give us the names of those who tortured Ramu Malla, we will conduct the necessary investigation and charge them," he said.
The so-called people's court has started taking in more people in the area, and the local Nepali Congress has requested the Maoists to desist. The NC district office says that it is losing Morchabar area party workers because of the court's charges and 'actions'. Asuraina VDC's former vice chairman Raj Kumar Singh and Gyan Prasad Mishra of Rayapur VDC, among others, have fled to India to avoid the court.
