The kin of the deceased members of a Nepali speaking family, who set themselves on fire in Gujarat, have complained of extreme pressure and harassment from the society members and the local authorities over the past three years in their bid to evict them forcibly from the place they had been residing in for more than four decades.

The Bishwokarma family, with their roots in Achham, Nepal, has been living in a one-storied house they built on the common plot of Chotunagar Cooperative Housing Society, Rajkot since 1978.

Talking to the Post over the phone from Gujarat, Madhu—the teenage daughter of Bharat and Aasha Bishwokarma who succumbed to burn injuries—said that the pressure eventually forced her parents and other relatives to resort to the extreme measure. Girish, Bharat’s brother, also died in the incident that took place on Wednesday in Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC). The other two—Bharat’s mother Basumati and his youngest brother Mahendra’s wife Rekha—who critically hurt themselves in the incident are undergoing treatment in the local Dindayal Upadhyay Hospital.

Madhu also complained that the RMC has cut off the supplies of water and electricity to their house for six months.

Orphaned teenager’s statement “We have been facing extreme pressure from society members to leave the place where we have been staying for so many years.

The pressure especially built up after my grandfather, Man Singh Bishwokarma, died three years ago. My parents used to tell me that my grandfather started living in the society since 1978.The society members went to such an extent that there was hardly a day we were not threatened to leave.

We complained to the police about the threats and the harassment. But our pleas fell on their closed ears. On the contrary, the municipal corporation cut off water supply to our house some six months ago. Subsequently, the electricity line was also disconnected.

This kind of pressure had a very bad impact on our family. My parents were forced to take the extreme step due to the pressure they were facing to leave the place. I demand justice for my family and that the people responsible for my parents’ death be booked.”

 Published on: 6 April 2013 | The Kathmandu Post