Kanglatongbi firing victim battles for life, livelihood
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 19 2014 : Bhim Karki, who had a close shave with death after he was hit by two bullets on the abdomen in police firing is now battling for life without any Government assistance.

Truck driver Bhim Karki was the sole bread winner of his family and provider for all the requirements of his three children's formal education.

But after he fell victim to the police firing, Bhim Karki has been battling between life and death.

Till date, he has undergone three surgical operations in addition to going for dialysis three times.

So far, the family has spent around Rs six lakh on his treatment.

Bhim Karki underwent third surgical operation at Raj Medicity today.

There his wife Renuka told The Sangai Express that she does not believe her husband could ever do physical work even if he recovers from the bullet injury.

Reminding about the State Government's announcement for compensation, Renuka urged the concerned authority to give them due compensation as early as possible.

Following the alleged rape of a 13 year old girl from Kanglatongbi by a 60 year old man on April 17 this year, a mass protest agitation was undertaken at Kanglatongbi on April 18 .

In their bid to control the protest agitation, police opened fire killing one person and injuring 20 others.

Bhim Karki was one of the few critically injured victims.

He underwent his first surgical operation in the night of April 18 at Raj Medicity followed by the second operation on the next day.

He was discharged from the hospital on May 19 .

However, Bhim Karki could not defecate on his own but uses artificial means for defecation.

After certain problems were detected in kidney and heart, Bhim Karki was admitted in Langol View on June 23 .

There he underwent dialysis three times.

For the third time, he underwent surgical operation at Raj Medicity today.

It is hoped that Bhim Karki can defecate normally after this operation, Renuka said.

Kanglatongbi Gram Panchayat Pradhan Shiva Kumar Basnet decried that the people's intense protest agitation has not been given any meaning.

Even after three months of the alleged rape, no charge sheet has been filed.

Tilak Paodel who was killed in police firing is yet to be compensated in spite of the Government's assurance to give a job to a member of his family.

Not only that, the Government has not been paying any money for the medical expenses incurred by the injured victims even though the Government assured to meet the medical expenses of the victims.

With Bhim Karki lying on hospital, his family has landed in a sea of misery unable to meet daily expenses like educational expenses of their two sons and one daughter, mon-thly house rents, medical ex- penses for Bhim Karki, daily kitchen requirements etc.

On behalf of the woeful family, Pradhan Shiva kumar urged the Government.

Comment