Sandhikharka: Difference between revisions
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===Aftermath and government attack=== |
===Aftermath and government attack=== |
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Following the attacks, all the political parties were hounded out, and the Nepali government left Sandhikharka other than operating security forces and the post office.<ref name="ntimes"/> However, Prime Minister [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]] visited the town on [[September 11]], who expressed his |
Following the attacks, all the political parties were hounded out, and the Nepali government left Sandhikharka other than operating security forces and the post office.<ref name="ntimes"/> However, Prime Minister [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]] visited the town on [[September 11]], who expressed his surprise to see this level of damage and destruction.<ref name="crisis"/> The rebels freed 60 people abducted after the attack that day.<ref name="rebelskilled">{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2002_Sept_16/ai_91757658|title=Gov't troops kill 13 Maoist rebels after raid|date=2002-09-16|work=Asian Political News|publisher=FindArticles|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref> Attempting to flee, government troops blocked an exit route from Arghakhanchi district, killing 13 guerillas.<ref name="rebelskilled"/> |
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===Closure of schools=== |
===Closure of schools=== |
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In [[October 2004]], the Maoists ordered the closure of all private schools in Sandhikharka, as well as the rest of Arghakhanchi District.<ref name="BBC"/> This came a year after they promised to keep the schools open if the cut their tuition costs by at least 20 percent, which was what |
In [[October 2004]], the Maoists ordered the closure of all private schools in Sandhikharka, as well as the rest of Arghakhanchi District.<ref name="BBC"/> This came a year after they promised to keep the schools open if the cut their tuition costs by at least 20 percent, which was what occurred.<ref name="BBC"/> According to schoolchild Pratiba Acharya, "Maoists thought that only rich people study in boarding schools like mine, so they want to close them."<ref name="BBC"/> Further, they destroyed schools who were operated by their enemies and those they disagreed with, after trying to change their curricula was to no avail.<ref name="BBC"/> Many students were sent to public schools, who taught in [[Nepali]], a language most residents didn't speak.<ref name="BBC"/> In contrast, the private schools used English, the mother tongue of a majority of residents, to teach.<ref name="BBC"/> |
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===2005 Maoist attack=== |
===2005 Maoist attack=== |
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Maoists launched a third attack on [[March 4]], [[2005]].<ref name="30maoists">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/click/rss/0.91/public/-/2/hi/south_asia/4325015.stm|title=Nepal's army 'kills 30 Maoists'|date=2005-03-07|work=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref> This operation backfired, and the Nepali military killed 30 Maoists in what [[BBC]] called "one of the bloodiest clashes since the royal coup."<ref name="30maoists"/> There were no casualties of troops.<ref name="30maoists"/> After forcing rebels into retreat, the military recovered "some crude bombs, terrorist documents and equipment used to operate mines".<ref name="30maoists"/> Despite his military's |
Maoists launched a third attack on [[March 4]], [[2005]].<ref name="30maoists">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/click/rss/0.91/public/-/2/hi/south_asia/4325015.stm|title=Nepal's army 'kills 30 Maoists'|date=2005-03-07|work=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref> This operation backfired, and the Nepali military killed 30 Maoists in what [[BBC]] called "one of the bloodiest clashes since the royal coup."<ref name="30maoists"/> There were no casualties of troops.<ref name="30maoists"/> After forcing rebels into retreat, the military recovered "some crude bombs, terrorist documents and equipment used to operate mines".<ref name="30maoists"/> Despite his military's success, King [[Gyanendra of Nepal]] imposed a state of emergency, detained political party leaders and imposed censorship of the press.<ref name="30maoists"/> Nepal's military released a statement on the fighting: |
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{{quote|On 4 March, terrorists... fled after strong resistance by the security forces. In the action, about 30 terrorists are estimated to have been killed and some injured.<ref name="30maoists"/>}} |
{{quote|On 4 March, terrorists... fled after strong resistance by the security forces. In the action, about 30 terrorists are estimated to have been killed and some injured.<ref name="30maoists"/>}} |
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{{Arghakhanchi District}} |
{{Arghakhanchi District}} |
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[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Arghakhanchi District]] |
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Arghakhanchi District]] |
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Revision as of 18:34, 4 September 2008
Sandhikharka | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Nepal |
| Zone | Lumbini Zone |
| District | Arghakhanchi District |
| Population (1991) | |
| • Total | 8,921 |
| • Religions | Hindu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:45 (Nepal Time) |
Sandhikharka is the headquarters of Arghakhanchi District in the Lumbini Zone of Nepal, a landlocked country in South Asia. It is located in a remote area of central Nepal, 300 km southwest of Nepal's capital of Kathmandu. Due to a high literacy rate, Sandhikharka once attracted people from outside Arghakhanchi District to Sandhikharka for its good schools. The town has been the subject of several attacks between the Nepali government and Maoist rebels.
Geography
Sandhikharka is located in a remote area of central Nepal, surrounded by pine forests.[1] It is located 300 km southwest of Nepal's capital of Kathmandu.[2] One road along a ravine connects the town to the rest of the world.[1]
History
2002 Maoist attacks
On September 8, 2002, the town was involved in a massive battle between the government forces and "thousands" of Maoists, reportedly led by Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Pampha Bhusal who come from the district.[2] Heavily armed rebels engaged the bases of civilian police, armed police and the Royal Nepalese Army and overpowered them following a few hours of gunbattle.[2] They tourched all government buildings except the hospital,[2] most never being rebuilt.[3] About 50 policemen and 70 rebels were killed in the night-long battle,[3] with almost 36 police injured.[2] However, doubts remain over how many of the dead were actually Maoists.[3] A second attack was launched on September 10, 2002, in which guerillas killed at least 65 security personnel, including soldiers, through 12 hours of fighting.[4] Forty-one personnel were reported as injured in this attack.[4] A telecommunication tower was destroyed as a result of the second attack,[5] and reinforcements were rushed in by helicopter as well as a government-sponsored effort to hold the town.[6] Unnamed leaders said lack of communication and a failed response from authorities led to the government's defeats.[2] CNN speculated that these attacks were aimed at disrupting the upcoming election by forcing the Nepali government to impose a state of emergency.[6]
Aftermath and government attack
Following the attacks, all the political parties were hounded out, and the Nepali government left Sandhikharka other than operating security forces and the post office.[3] However, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba visited the town on September 11, who expressed his surprise to see this level of damage and destruction.[2] The rebels freed 60 people abducted after the attack that day.[7] Attempting to flee, government troops blocked an exit route from Arghakhanchi district, killing 13 guerillas.[7]
Closure of schools
In October 2004, the Maoists ordered the closure of all private schools in Sandhikharka, as well as the rest of Arghakhanchi District.[1] This came a year after they promised to keep the schools open if the cut their tuition costs by at least 20 percent, which was what occurred.[1] According to schoolchild Pratiba Acharya, "Maoists thought that only rich people study in boarding schools like mine, so they want to close them."[1] Further, they destroyed schools who were operated by their enemies and those they disagreed with, after trying to change their curricula was to no avail.[1] Many students were sent to public schools, who taught in Nepali, a language most residents didn't speak.[1] In contrast, the private schools used English, the mother tongue of a majority of residents, to teach.[1]
2005 Maoist attack
Maoists launched a third attack on March 4, 2005.[8] This operation backfired, and the Nepali military killed 30 Maoists in what BBC called "one of the bloodiest clashes since the royal coup."[8] There were no casualties of troops.[8] After forcing rebels into retreat, the military recovered "some crude bombs, terrorist documents and equipment used to operate mines".[8] Despite his military's success, King Gyanendra of Nepal imposed a state of emergency, detained political party leaders and imposed censorship of the press.[8] Nepal's military released a statement on the fighting:
On 4 March, terrorists... fled after strong resistance by the security forces. In the action, about 30 terrorists are estimated to have been killed and some injured.[8]
Demographics
At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 8921.[9] It had 6703 married people, with 185 having more than one spouse as of that census.[9] Sandhikharka had 7706 literate people, and 2272 were attending school as of that census.[9] This high literacy rate once drew people from outside Arghakhanchi District to Sandhikharka for its good schools.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Haviland, Charles (2004-11-15). "Harsh lessons of Nepal's insurgency". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g Yogi, Bhagirath (2002-09-19). "The Deepening Crisis". Spotlight Weekly. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ a b c d Nepal, Kishore (2004-05-27). "The scars are still raw in Argakhanchi". Nepali Times. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ a b "Toll could soar, as dozens reported missing". The Kathmandu Post. 2002-09-09. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ "Heavy casualties feared in clashes". NepalNews. 2002-09-09.
- ^ a b "Nepal Maoists launch fresh attack". CNN. 2002-09-09. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ a b "Gov't troops kill 13 Maoist rebels after raid". Asian Political News. FindArticles. 2002-09-16. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ a b c d e f "Nepal's army 'kills 30 Maoists'". BBC News. 2005-03-07. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ a b c "Nepal Census 2001". Nepal's Village Development Committees. Digital Himalaya. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
