Kathmandu, November 27

A minor girl, who was forced into illegal sex trade in India on the pretext of providing lucrative job, has been rescued and brought home for rehabilitation.

The Anti-human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police swung into action after the father of the 15-year-old girl sought help of the law enforcement agency for his daughter’s rescue. Deputy Superintendent of Police Govinda Thapaliya, AHTB spokesperson, said the girl was rescued from Rani Bagh area of New Delhi and brought her home on Monday. The same day, a special team assigned by the AHTB, had arrested two women, who allegedly trafficked her to India and subjected her to forced prostitution under brutal circumstances, from Dhanusha.

Those taken into custody have been identified as Juna Kumar Khadka alias Josna of Dhanusha and Simran Tamang aka Sita Lama of Parsa. According to the AHTB, Khadka was brothel owner in New Delhi, while Tamang trafficked the girl to India and handed her over to Khadka. Tamang is the sister-in-law of the victim.

The ninth grader was just 12 when she was trafficked to India three years ago on the pretext of providing a job in Honda Company there, saying that she would be paid a monthly salary of Rs 20,000. The AHTB has launched further investigation into the case under the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act-2007. Any person, who is involved in transportation or trafficking of a child for the purpose of buying, selling and engaging her in prostitution abroad, shall be liable to an imprisonment ranging from 15 to 20 years and a fine not exceeding Rs 200,000. The rescued child has been handed over to her parents.

On November 13, the NHTB had arrested a woman, who had allegedly sold her 14-year-old niece to a brothel in New Delhi seven years ago. Krishna Maya Lama aka Kanchhi Tamang, the victim’s aunt from Surya Gadhi Rural Municipality, Nuwakot, had been living in Kathmandu.