Pokhara, January 16

As many as 25 youths from Lahachowk of Kaski have been left to fend for themselves after they were swindled by an agent promising them lucrative jobs in Dubai.

Kul Prasad Acharya from Lahachowk quit his government job in the hope of earning big bucks in Dubai, while Ganesh Prasad Adhikary followed suit and left his poultry farm.

Retired Nepali Army Sukraraj Adhikary left his job at City Development Bank, Hemja Branch for the same.

However, they are only a few among those who lost their jobs as well as money.

The victims lost Rs 2.5 lakh each which they submitted to the agent.

They have been visiting places to recover their money, but in vain.

The victims said Raj Kumar Sharma, who claimed he was from Nepalgunj, had promised them lucrative jobs in Dubai with earnings of more than one lakh rupees per month. “We are in unspeakable trouble as we sent the money trusting other people,” one of the victims Gopal Chapagain said.

Raj Kumar, who lives in the UAE, had lured the youths to fly to Dubai saying that his company wanted to hire some workers pronto. The youths had collected money in haste and sent it to Raj Kumar.

Ghanshyam Paudel had introduced them to Raj Kumar through Govind Shrestha of Lahachowk.

Of the 25 youths who handed the money to Raj Kumar, eight flew to Dubai on December 8, 2015. As Raj Kumar came to receive them at the airport, he asked everyone to give him $1000 for document works, lodging and food. “After we handed $1,000 each to Raj Kumar at the airport, we were broke,” Ganesh lamented.

The eight youths stayed in Dubai for 14 days before they were asked to come to Sharja Airport saying that they had to go to Mumbai and get back. “Raj Kumar had noted the email address of one of us and pledged to send the Visa, but he never returned. So, we were compelled to stay at the airport,” Sukraraj said.

The youths spent four days at the airport before police caught them on January 5. “Despite explaining our situation to the police, they deported us to Nepal,” Sukraraj said. After their return, the youths knocked the doors of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority regional office in Pokhara. However, they returned as the anti-graft body told them that the case was not under their jurisdiction.

The victims have registered a case at Foreign Employment for Safe Emigration Office, Pokhara. Maya Gurung, coordinator at the office, said they would investigate the case.

“We receive many such cases. People must think before handing their money to agents as some might be frauds,” Gurung added.