KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 26
The Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police has arrested two persons, including a woman, for their alleged involvement in trafficking a woman and her daughter to Turkey under the guise of getting them decent job.
Officials said Jeevan Bhatta, 26, of Gorkha and Purnima Sirpali Basnet, 32, of Baglung were held from Kalimati and Maitighar on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Bhatta and Basnet had lured the mother and daughter into going to Turkey with the assurance of jobs, which will earn them Rs 80,000 a month.
The mother and daughter sold a plot of land and provided Rs 10,000 to Bhatta and Basnet as 'fee'. Subsequently, the victims reached to Turkey via Tribhuvan International Airport on October 8. The mother and daughter were accompanied by Basnet.
As they reached Turkey, Basnet introduced the victims to her father, who has been living there for the past few years. "In Turkey, Basnet's father took the mother hostage and the daughter was sold to someone else for 2,000 Turkish Lira (around Rs 31,363)," the AHTB said. After the case of human trafficking was reported, the government authorities directed the Turkey-based Nepali mission for their rescue and repatriation.
The daughter and mother were brought home on November 23 and January 10, respectively.
Upon their return, the victims had filed an FIR against Bhatta and Basnet at the AHTB.
They have been charged with human trafficking. The AHTB has suspected their involvement in other cases of human trafficking as well.
According to a report of the National Human Rights Commission, traffickers use different modus operandi for luring the victims. Some victims are trafficked by using coercive measures such as threats. Others are largely tempted by false promises of decent jobs and handsome salary in foreign countries. Many girls and women are trafficked to India and other countries by producing fake marriage certificates and on the pretext of visiting new places and visiting their relatives abroad.
Trafficking takes place in a network chain and it is considered as an organised crime.
Trafficking of girls and women to India takes place for prostitution, dance in orchestra, circus performance and even for marriage. Trafficking of persons to oversees is mainly for labour exploitation and sexual exploitation in night clubs, dance bars and hotels.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 27, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
