Nepalganj-Rajkumar Bista has spent his life in prison ever since the start of the conflict. Living within the four walls of his prison cell, Bista has for the last 10 years hopes to get released.

He was arrested in Chunwan village of Rukum for being a member of the Maoist students union. He is probably one of the only few political workers who has spent such a long jail term. Despite the court order for his release, the administration denied his legal right. Nearly seven years ago, the Rukum district court had ordered the police to release him but the administration refused. He was then transferred from Rukum to Dang and finally to Nepalganj.

Arrested on charges of being a terrorist, Bista is now being charged with a murder case. Everytime there was a ceasefire, he had hoped for the government to release him. But he remained in jail without being noticed even during the two rounds of peace talks. Now even with the recent ceasefire which will be followed by peace talks soon, Bista has little reason to be optimistic.