Raju Chhetri, a trekking guide from Manebhanjan in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, is battling grief and injustice after a landslide on October 5 claimed the lives of his mother and 10-year-old daughter.
While most families of the victims received ₹5 lakh in compensation and government jobs, Raju’s plea has been rejected. Officials allegedly believe his family were Nepali nationals — a claim that contradicts official documents he possesses.
“Our ancestors came from Nepal, but we were born here. We are Indians,” Raju said, showing his voter ID, Aadhaar, and birth certificates that establish his Indian citizenship.
Initially, Darjeeling SDO Richard Lepcha claimed that all five members of Raju’s deceased relatives were Nepali citizens. However, District Magistrate Preeti Goyal later clarified that 20 of the 21 victims were Indian nationals, adding that Raju’s case “is being looked into.”
Local residents and community leaders have verified Raju’s Indian identity. Social organizations and Gorkha advocacy groups have rallied behind him, calling the denial of compensation a “deeply discriminatory” act reflecting a wider issue faced by Nepali-speaking Indians in border regions.
The incident has reignited conversations about the identity struggles of Indian Gorkhas, who often face suspicion over their nationality due to linguistic and cultural ties with Nepal.
As Raju continues his fight for justice, his story stands as a powerful reminder of how bureaucratic oversight and prejudice can compound tragedy.
