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60. Tanka Sharma
At 7 a.m. on January 22, 2002 (Magh 9, 2058), a
group of RNA soldiers came to Dulegaunda VDC
ward 7, apparently searching for CPN-M cadres who
were responsible for the previous month’s
destruction of a police post located one hour’s walk
away. The RNA soldiers arrested nine men from the
ward that day, of whom eight were released over the
next months. However, one of the detainees, thirtytwo-year-old
Tanka Sharma, remains missing. The
family denies that Sharma had any CPN-M
affiliation.
After their release, the other detainees told the family that they had all been held
together at the Fulbari army barracks for the first five days. Sharma complained of
severe chest and stomach pains at the time, apparently from beatings he had received,
and begged the soldiers to see his six-month old daughter “one more time.” After five
days, the other eight men were transferred away from the Fulbari army barracks, and lost
contact with Sharma, who remained behind. About one month after his detention, the
family was informed that Sharma had been seen in the company of army soldiers,
presumably being used to point out suspected CPN-M members during army patrols.
Following his arrest, relatives regularly went to the Fulbari army barracks and to the
CDO office to seek information about Sharma. Later, the family was directed to the
Bijayapur army barracks in Kaski district, and was repeatedly told to come later because
Sharma was “out with the army.” Then, the army battalion stationed at the Bijayapur
army barracks was transferred to Gorkha district. When the family sought information
from Gorkha district, the army denied any knowledge of the case. The family informed
the ICRC and INSEC of the “disappearance,” but has received no news about the fate
of Sharma. 57
57
Human Rights Watch interview with a relative of Tanka Sharma, Kaski, September 21, 2004.
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