Revisiting Tikapur

Whatever its proximate cause, Tikapur incident had a strong political background

When I first read about the Tikapur carnage I was dumbstruck. I had never thought the ongoing protest for Tharuhat province would result in the heinous killing of seven policemen and a toddler. It went against the image of Tharu community in my mind. But now that it has happened, I urge everybody to refrain from giving it communal color. For the incident was caused by provocative speeches of some political leaders. The Tharu community, thus, is not responsible for this carnage, but those who are making the community a human shield to further their political goals.

I have lived among the Tharus since our parents migrated to the Tarai from Dadeldhura. I have spent my childhood playing and fishing with my Tharu friends. My neighbors, who were Tharus, treated me like their own family. I learnt their language and culture. Today when I meet any Tharu, I prefer to communicate in Tharu language; on the other hand, some of my Tharu friends speak fluent Nepali. We celebrate Maghi with them dancing to their folk songs, while they celebrate Dashain and Tihar with Pahadi people. There is cultural assimilation between Tharu and Pahadis. The day of the violent protest in Tikapur, there was uneasy peace in our village, even though our house is situated far from ground zero. Fear had gripped this settlement of both Tharus and Pahadis.

Many conspiracy theories have been doing rounds on Tikapur. Home minister Bamdev Gautam said people from 'south' (indicating to India) were behind it. Some say there were infiltrators. Some even blame the Maoists. Whatever the case, it's clear that Tikapur incident has a strong political background.

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Tharus and Magars were among the top Maoist recruits during the civil war. Maoists in Nepal were the first to incite the suppressed Tharu community to fight for their rights, which made Tharu community politically aware. But the Maoist party abandoned them soon. When its influential leader in Far West, Lekh Raj Bhatta, became die-hard activist of 'Undivided Far-West' the Tharu community felt betrayed by the party for which they gave their lives.

When there was protest against proposed six-province model in Karnali, Surkhet and Kailali, influential political leaders assured that genuine demands would be met. But while the demands of people in Karnali and Surkhet were fulfilled, they ignored those of the Tharus. Sher Bahadur Deuba vowed not to give an inch of Kailali to Tharuhat province, infuriating the Tharu community in Kailali.

Then Madheshi and Tharu leaders came to Dhangadhi to address a mass gathering. Activists of Undivided Far-West prevented Tharu people from joining the gathering. Undivided supporters had effectively sabotaged the mass meeting of Madheshi and Tharu leaders. Tharu community was waiting to take revenge against the Undivided activists. That opportune time came when Undivided supporters held a motorcycle rally, from Dhangadhi to Tikapur on August 21. On that day Tharuhat activists had blocked the road to Tikapur. Stones were pelted at the participants of the rally. Dozens were injured.

Also, prior to carnage of August 24, Madheshi leaders Amresh Kumar Singh, Upendra Yadav and Rajendra Mahato had addressed a mass in Tikapur, where they urged the Tharu community to take up arms. This gathering planted seed of hatred and violence in Tharu community who earlier were protesting peacefully. To add fuel to the fire, Madheshi leaders promised five million rupee each to families who lost their loved ones in protests, which lured even more would-be protestors. Therefore political leaders are responsible for Tikapur killing.

After violence erupted, the government shouldn't have mobilized army, which has further infuriated the Tharu community. As the background is political, solutions at the political level should be sought. A constitution that is not acceptable to indigenous and ethnic community like Tharus will be starting of a new chapter of violence. Tharus in the West are politically, socially, economically and culturally exploited. So their genuine demands should be met to ensure peace in the country. As the Tharus have been divided among proposed 5, 6 and 7 provinces, making them politically weak, they are demanding that their cluster areas be left intact. This legitimate demand must be addressed. As the Tharu and Pahadi have always lived peacefully, any attempt to sabotage communal harmony should be aborted.

It has been more than a week after the Tikapur carnage, no political party leader has bothered to go there to calm the situation. Continuous curfew has crippled lives in Tikapur and Dhangadhi. Youths are deserting villages fearing communal violence. When community is gripped with fear political leaders and government should ensure their safety and security, but this hasn't happened. Our Machiavellian political leaders should realize that if these communal flames spread to other parts of the country, things might really go out of their hands.

The author is a social activist and freelance writer

dk7030@gmail.com