Ex-combatant finds his calling in liquor business

KALIKOT, JAN 20 -
As a combatant of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Deepak Raj Karki would take action against people selling alcohol during the insurgency in the district. Karki, however, has become the largest liquor suppliers in Pili Bazaar and adjoining areas now.

“I learned that business was all about profit and loss, and as alcohol was in high demand, I decided to start a liquor shop,” he said.

Area in-charge of Manma, Dahaan and Pili of the UCPN (Maoist), Karki has no qualms about people linking his business with his party. An assistant commander of the dissolved PLA, Karki had aspired to join the Nepal Army (NA). He even completed intermediate level studies while he was at Dashrathpur camp to become eligible to join the NA as an officer. However, as the government did not recognise his new academic qualification, his dreams shattered and he opted for voluntary retirement. Karki’s wife Kalpana was a platoon commander in the PLA. When the duo opted for voluntary retirement, they received a total of Rs1.1million. They bought a piece of land and invested the remaining Rs 800,000 to open a liquor shop. After faring well, the couples expanded the business into ‘Karki General Stores’ also selling daily essentials.

Karki, a brilliant student during his days in the Geta-based Kalika Secondary School, was joined the PLA after he was arrested by security forces in September 26, 2001 allegedly for helping the Maoist rebels. Kalpana too joined the PLA after security forces started torturing her, asking for Karki’s whereabouts. Kalpana, who fought against the security forces in the battles of Palpa, Kapilvastu, and Manakamana, said she had taken up arms leaving behind a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter with her grandparents. “The thought that we then could never see my daughter’s face always haunted me. Thankfully, we were able to stay alive to see the light of day” she said.

Karki’s parents, who then spent their days worrying about their son and daughter-in-law, are happy that the couple returned home and are doing well. “We had lost all hopes of seeing them again when the war was at its peak,” Deepak’s father said.

Labels: Highlight, News