Nuwakot, Sept. 25 -- For 22 years, Januka Mijar ran 'Jasmina Madal Pasal' on the banks of Dhobikhola in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot. She started the shop with a small room and little capital, and gradually made madal, a folk musical instrument, the source of her family's income.

The first five or six years went to accumulating materials and setting up the shop. Gradually, business grew. The Mijar couple supported their family, including a son and a daughter, with their business.

On the morning of August 26, Januka arrived at her shop as usual. She had 62 madals ready to send to Kathmandu. She began packing them. Her husband had gone across the Trishuli river to collect hide, a raw material for madal.

Then police began announcing over l...