KATHMANDU: One of the victims of the infamous Rukum massacre in which six youths were killed and a dozen injured in May 2020 has been seeking support from society and the government for treatment. 

Laxmi Sunar, mother of Lokendra Sunar, who was one of the six youths killed in the Rukum massacre, has been seeking support for the surgery of her head injuries. But she has not received any support yet.

Former minister and CPN (Maoist Centre)’s popular youth leader Ganeshman Pun ‘Rashmi’ has been lobbying with his party leaders to manage support for the Rukum massacre victim Sunar, who has gone through several ordeals in her life. 

After losing her spouse in her early thirties in a road accident with her daughter severely injured, she lost her son in the massacre. Last year, she got her home made up of mud and stone demolished by a strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake on November 3, 2023. 

Sunar managed to survive but with injuries inside her head that continued to remain painful. 

According to Sunar, doctors have diagnosed a ‘Narrowed neck saccular aneurysm in right MCA territory’ which needs around half a million rupees. 

“We have requested the prime minister’s secretariat to find some support for Sunar’s treatment,” Pun told the Dignity Post. 

The Rukum massacre has revealed the stark reality of Nepal persisting with severe discrimination against Dalits, showcasing how deeply rooted these issues remain in the country, even in the 21st century.

On May 23, 2020, 21-year-old Nabaraj BK, from Bheri Municipality in Jajarkot district, along with 18 of his friends, had gone to Soti in Chaurjahari Municipality of West Rukum to bring his 17-year-old girlfriend, belonging to so-called ‘upper caste’, as his bride when the locals attacked them and chased them towards the Bheri River.

Nabaraj along with Ganesh Budha Magar, Tikaram Nepali, Lokendra Sunar, Govinda Shahi and Sandip BK were killed in the incident. Twelve survived the attack with injuries.