🔗 Share this article

Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

The courageous student deflected a grenade from Hamas attackers before being taken hostage in the attack on Israel in the recent conflict, says the fellow Nepalese student he protected.

"I may not have endured if the two grenades had detonated. Bipin showed bravery and hurled the device out," the survivor told news sources.

He was commenting after the Israeli military identified his companion's body as being one of four dead captives returned by Hamas under the Gaza ceasefire accord.

Bipin was 23 and employed on a agricultural community when he was taken by Hamas into imprisonment along with numerous individuals on that fateful day. It remains unknown how or when he passed away.

His loved ones hoped right up to the release deadline that he could be among living hostages returned on 13 October, but he was not, and a subsequent day their deepest concerns were verified.

Assault Details

Bipin, Dhan Bahadur and 15 other Nepalese farming students had been in Israel for just over a short period when Kibbutz Alumim was attacked.

"We were aware that there may be a war in Israel. But we had no idea that there could be any physical assault of that magnitude," the survivor said. "They thought that there might be missile attacks and we would be safe if we stay below ground, in the shelters."

For the students who'd been selected under the national "Earn and Learn Programme" it was a significant opportunity to improve circumstances for themselves and their families in Nepal.

Dhan Bahadur attributes his safety to his friend's heroic actions.

"At the time of the assault, multiple explosives were thrown near the shelters. My friend grabbed a device and threw it away; another detonated inside. Due to that explosion, I and several companions were wounded," he says.

"Bipin was unharmed at that point. If both grenades had detonated, I would not have been speaking with you like this."

10 of the Nepalese students were killed in the assault. Their companion was the sole person taken hostage.

"We saw each other for the final occasion when Bipin and others were being shifted to another bunker," Dhan Bahadur explains. "Since, after the wounding, was immobile and remained stayed in the first bunker. I discovered that there were multiple assaults in the bunker where he took shelter and was was taken prisoner from that location."

Courtesy Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

Remembering Bipin

The 27-year-old states he feels deeply saddened after hearing about his friend's death. Dhan Bahadur and his companion studied together in Far Western University School of Agriculture in Tikapur, Nepal.

"We undertook every efforts from our sides to ensure his release. We did everything. But yesterday, we had to face such devastating information. All of Nepal is in grief. Personally cannot comprehend how to express. I have no words to describe my sadness."

The survivor says Bipin and other colleagues had the same aspiration of making little savings and starting their own business after returning from the educational opportunity in Israel.

"Bipin loved playing football and basketball. We would converse for hours about our ambitions and dreams. My friend desired to get his physique in excellent condition and to purchase a latest device. We even recorded a musical piece about companionship with a device. He also spoke about showcasing himself in a music video."

Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

Aftermath

On the specified date, the defense authorities stated they believed the student was "killed in detention during the initial period of the conflict". There's no way of externally verifying that.

But should this be the situation, Dhan Bahadur said, the global authorities should ask Hamas about why it happened.

He said he had not received any support from national authorities following his wounding but wished the Israeli government would assist his friend's relatives.

The student's close family members have withheld any comment so far.

Video from 7 October showed him moving inside a medical facility in the urban area. His family received no indication of survival for a year, until the Israeli military shared a recording of him in captivity around that period.

Relatives characterized the material as "proof of survival" just hours before the ceasefire deal was agreed, and were praying for a positive outcome.

Now in his hometown of his community Bipin's family are grieving after receiving news of his passing.

Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Family Situation

His mother and sister had gone to the US to lobby for the freedom of captives, Bipin's cousin family member informed media.

The relative says the family has no words to describe the sorrow. "Bipin's female relatives are coming back from America on Thursday. The father is not in the condition to articulate the suffering in language."

Meanwhile it remains unclear when the student's body will be returned to his relatives.

Israel is making required arrangements to return his body to Nepal, as it did for the other students who died, Nepal's government department said.

"We are all stunned by the news of Bipin Joshi's death. In this period of grief [we] offer our {deep|pro