Jhulaghat (Indo-Nepal Border), February 22
For anyone looking to understand the situation on the Indo-Nepal border all roads in the border district of Pithoragarh lead to little Gudiya’s home. The child of a businessman from the Indian side of the Jhulaghat trade post is living with two deep wound marks on her stomach and occasional bouts of pain even before she has completed two years of age.
Gudiya was injured by a bullet shot by the Maoists from across the border to target a Royal Nepal Army soldier nearly five months ago.. The bullet left two wounds on the stomach, besides nine cuts and bruises on her intestine, says Laxmi Dutt Gadkoti, her grandfather.
She was playing on the balcony of the house overlooking the bridge when the Maoists came to the Nepalese side of the trade post chasing a Royal Nepal Army soldier, he says. The Maoists opened fire at the soldier trying to escape through the bridge when a stray bullet hit the girl. Terror swept through the region and the markets were kept closed for two days. The police was deployed at the trade post to guard the bridge earlier manned by the SSB.
Her mother, Manju, is only eager
to share the anger bottled up not just against the Maoists but also against the security personnel who, she said ,did nothing when the incident took
place. However, there is no going back for this traditional business family.
Undergoing treatment at a Haldwani hospital where she still has to report once in a while, Gudiya is getting towards normal. The family got Rs 5000 as relief from the office of the District Magistrate, Pithoragarh. Not only the security personnel but also the people are now more alert in this sleepy border trade post. And most of them are beginning to come to terms with the life on the border .
