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Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

The courageous student threw back a explosive device from Hamas attackers before being captured in the attack on Israel in the recent conflict, reveals the other Nepalese student he rescued.

"I would not have survived if the two grenades had exploded. He showed courage and hurled the device away," the survivor shared with news sources.

He was speaking after the Israeli military identified his friend's body as being one of four deceased captives handed back by Hamas under the Gaza ceasefire accord.

The young student was 23 and working on a agricultural community when he was seized by Hamas into imprisonment along with 250 others on 7 October 2023. It remains unclear the circumstances of he passed away.

The student's loved ones prayed right up to the negotiation cutoff that he could be among surviving captives returned on 13 October, but he wasn't, and a day later their deepest concerns were verified.

The Attack

The student, Dhan Bahadur and fifteen other Nepalese farming students had been in Israel for just over three weeks when their residence was attacked.

"The students were aware that there could be a conflict in Israel. But we had little expectation that there may be any physical assault of that magnitude," the survivor said. "We believed that there might be missile attacks and we would be safe if we remained underground, in the shelters."

For the young individuals who'd been selected under the Israeli government's "Earn and Learn Programme" it was a great chance to make better lives for themselves and their families in Nepal.

Dhan Bahadur attributes his survival to Bipin's courage.

"At the time of attack, two grenades were thrown near the bunkers. My friend grabbed one and threw it outside; one detonated within. Because of that blast, myself and several companions were injured," he recalls.

"He was safe at that point. If both grenades had detonated, I would not have been speaking with you today."

10 of the Nepalese students were killed in the assault. Bipin was the only one taken hostage.

"The friends saw each other for the last time when Bipin and fellow students were being shifted to a different bunker," Dhan Bahadur says. "Since, after the injury, I and remained stayed in the initial shelter. I came to know that there were multiple assaults in the bunker where he took refuge and was was held captive from there."

Courtesy Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

Remembering Bipin

The 27-year-old says he feels deeply saddened after learning about his colleague's passing. He and Bipin were classmates in their educational institution in Tikapur, Nepal.

"We undertook every efforts from our perspective to ensure his freedom. They attempted everything. But recently, we had to face such devastating information. The entire nation is in mourning. Personally do not know how to express. Truly have limited expression to explain my sadness."

Dhan Bahadur says Bipin and other students had the identical aspiration of making little savings and starting their own business after returning from the educational opportunity in Israel.

"Bipin enjoyed playing football and basketball. The friends would converse for extended periods about our ambitions and dreams. My friend desired to get his body in excellent condition and to buy a new device. We even recorded a song about friendship with my phone. He also talked about presenting himself in a visual production."

Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

Aftermath

On 14 October, the defense authorities said they suspected Bipin Joshi was "killed in captivity during the initial period of the conflict". There's no method of externally verifying that.

But should this be the case, the survivor commented, the international community should ask Hamas about why it happened.

The survivor mentioned he had lacked any assistance from national authorities following his injury but hoped the Israeli government would help Bipin's relatives.

The student's immediate relatives have not released any comment so far.

Footage from 7 October depicted him walking inside al-Shifa hospital in the urban area. His family obtained no indication of life for a year, until the Israeli military shared a video of him in captivity around November 2023.

Family members characterized the footage as "proof of survival" just moments before the ceasefire deal was finalized, and were praying for a positive outcome.

Currently in his hometown of his community the student's loved ones are mourning after receiving information of his passing.

Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Family Response

The student's female relatives had traveled to the United States to advocate for the release of captives, the student's relative Kishore Joshi informed news sources.

He states the family has no words to describe the sorrow. "Bipin's female relatives are returning from America on Thursday. The parent is not in the condition to express the pain in language."

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

Israel is making all necessary preparations to repatriate his remains to Nepal, as it did for the remaining students who perished, Nepal's government department announced.

"The authorities are completely stunned by the news of the student's death. In this time of sorrow [we] extend our {deep|pro