Kathmandu, January 20

A Nepali national was arrested in New Delhi yesterday for his alleged involvement in trafficking Nepali girls to Gulf countries, Indian media reported today.

The accused identified as Lopsang Lama, 33, carrying a cash reward of INR 100,000 on his head, hails from Okhaldhunga district in Nepal, Indian police told mediapersons.

According to police, Lama was involved in a trafficking case in which 16 Nepali girls were rescued from a house in Munirka village on July 25. A case was registered at a local police station in this regard.

Investigation revealed that the rescued girls were confined in a rented house of Lama and his associates for 20 to 22 days, Indian media quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. After his arrest, Lama confessed his involvement in the alleged case.

The Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi confirmed the arrest of Lama in connection with the case, adding that they were ‘studying documents’ to ascertain whether or not he was a Nepali national.

“Since there are many Nepali-speaking Indians in New Delhi, we need to hold a thorough study before reaching a conclusion,” Bharat Kumar Regmi, deputy chief of mission at the embassy, told THT over phone from New Delhi.

Lama disclosed during interrogation that he, along with his brother-in-law and other associates, were running a racket of human trafficking by sending Nepali girls to Gulf countries including Kuwait, Dubai and Iraq, the police officer told Indian media. The trafficked girls were allegedly sexually exploited as well. Lama has so far managed to send 25 to 30 Nepali girls to Gulf countries, police said.