DOLAKHA, June 9: Last Monday, a tired Umrila Tamang returned home in Baiteshwar Rural Municipality of Dolakha district after completing her daily-wage works. The 34-year-old then instructed her youngest son Amir to go to nearby Namdu Bazaar and buy meat, after which she prepared to cook dinner for the family.
She lit the stove, placed a cooking pan over it and poured some oil to cook meat and started slicing onions. As usual, her husband came home drunk and started a fight. After some time of scolding her, the husband lifted up the frying pan and splashed the boiling oil on her face. She screamed in agony but her husband started preparing to batter her with fire sticks.
At that time, her relatives barged in the kitchen upon hearing Urmila's scream and rescued her. They took her to Maina Pokhari Bazaar for treatment. However, she had to be referred to the capital for further treatment due to the hospital's limitations.
She was then taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) of Kathmandu. Her face has sustained severe burn injuries. Because of the wounds, she cannot speak properly.
Talking to Republica over the phone on Thursday evening, she appealed for justice despite not being able to speak properly. Her drunkard husband remains at large after the incident.
“Urmila's situation is critical. The doctors are treating her through cream medicine, pills and injection at times,” informed her brother Amit Tamang. “Her husband has been involved in extra-marital affairs and drinks excessively. He beats my sister almost regularly,” he said.
Married at the age of 19, Urmila has two sons and one daughter. Her eldest son Sagar, who passed SLC exams last year, had been sent to Kathmandu for his further studies.
Sagar also said that his father has long been abusing his mother.
Chief District Officer Yagya Raj Bohora said Urmila's husband is at large. “We have already deployed a team of police to look for him. Police will soon arrest the guilty,” he said.
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