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Nepali mother seeking justice for son’s murder ends fast after 359 days
A Nepali mother who was on hunger strike since last year seeking justice for her son murdered during the country’s civil war ended her fast on Saturday night after assurances from the government.
A Nepali mother who was on hunger strike since last year seeking justice for her son murdered during the country’s civil war ended her fast on Saturday night after assurances from the government.
Ganga Maya Adhikari, 50, who is admitted in Bir Hospital here, ended her fast after 359 days by taking sips of a health drink from Nepal’s law and justice minister Narahari Acharya.
Her decision to end the strike comes 26 days after the death of her husband Nanda Prasad Adhikari, 56, who died last month at the same hospital after undertaking a fast for 333 days.
“The government respects her wish for justice. But it is also the government’s duty to save her life,” Acharya told media persons after Ganga Maya agreed to the government proposal to end the strike.
The five point proposal includes commitment from the government to nab Rudra Prasad Acharya, the main accused in the case, and produce him before court. Acharya is believed to be hiding in Ireland.
Other points include resettlement and health benefits for her and her family and last rites of her husband whose body is still lying unclaimed at the mortuary of a government hospital.
“As per the government’s assurances and request I have decided to end my fast so that I can continue my fight for justice,” Ganga Maya mentioned in her written assurance to the government.
Though she has agreed to end her fast after assurances from the government, Ganga Maya has decided to consume only liquids and not eat anything solid till the commitments are fulfilled.
The couple had started their strike in October last year seeking arrest of the murderers of their teenage son Krishna Prasad who was allegedly killed in 2004 by Maoists during Nepal’s civil war.
A case was lodged and the accused named, but no action was taken.
They had been kept alive with intravenous fluids, but doctors at the hospital had given up hopes of them staying alive since August, as their bodies couldn’t absorb nutrients.
They had earlier undertaken a 47-day fast last year. They ended it after assurances from the government and arrest of one of the accused. But when the accused was released after 25 days, they resumed the fast.
