Living Martyr, People’s movement victim Mukesh Kayastha passes away

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has offered his sorrow over demise of Mukesh Kayastha, the second people’s movement victim. Through a social media, he expressed tributes to Kayastha and extended condolences the bereaved family, his relatives and well-wishers.

People’s movement 2006 victim, Mukesh Kayastha passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 32. He could not walk and talk, and was confined to his home ever since he was injured in the movement. At that time, four youths from Kavrepalanchok district were killed in the movement and 40 others were injured.

Following complications in his health, he was admitted to Banepa-based Scheer Memorial Hospital, where he breathed his last, said Hira Sharma, chairperson of the Mukesh Foundation.

Mukesh Kayastha got injured during the second People’s Movement at Teendobato, Kavre on 9 April, 2006. He was shot by a bullet in his left temple. He was only son of the Kayasthas. He was a resident of Banepa Municipality-8 in Kavrepalanchok district. He was 15 years old when he was injured. He was an eighth grader at Bidya Sagar School in Banepa.

In 2078 BS, the Warriors, Achieves and Respect Committee of Democracy led by then the Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali honoured him as a ‘Warrior of Democracy’ and appreciated his contribution to the people’s movement. He was also known as the ‘Living Martyr’.

The government waived loans of Rs 700,000 taken by his family. It had also been providing Rs 15,000 per month for his medication, and had managed a health worker for his care.

He completely stopped talking for one year. He was being fed through tube. The Kayastha family did not lose their hopes on him. “Mukesh’s right hand and both legs were immobile since he fell sick. We had a hope that he could be cured,” said Mukesh’s father Krishna Man.

Meanwhile, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Aman Lal Modi has said Mukesh Kayastha a martyr.

Addressing a condolence programme in Banepa Thursday, Minister Modi reiterated that Kayastha would be declared a martyr and urged people not to doubt it.

“The nation is mourning his death. The people of Kavrepalanchok district should be proud of the contribution made by Kayastha in the struggle for democracy,” he said and urged the Kayastha family to turn grief into strength.

Federal MPs from Kavrepalnchok district Surya Man Dong and Gokul Prasad Baskota, province assembly members Kanchan Chandra Bade and Laxman Lamsal, Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Dinesh Bhattarai, and political leaders, cadres based in the district and locals were present on the occasion.