Nepalgunj, September 4 

The number of women entering India bound for Gulf countries via Banke’s Nepalgunj border point has increased. 

Data made public by organisations working against human trafficking show that very few missing women are found. 

As many as 508 applications were registered with Maiti Nepal at Nepalgunj border office with request to search for the missing women from January to July this year. Contact was made with 80 women.  

Maiti Nepal Nepalgunj Chief Keshav Koirala said 519 women and children were counselled at the Nepalgunj border point in the same period. 

Nepal government has banned going to Gulf countries for employment through India. But tempted by economic prospects, Nepali women and girls travel to India to fly to Gulf countries and end up being trafficked and exploited. 

Banke District Police Office had rescued 45 women from Nepalgunj border point and saved them from being trafficked a few days ago. Banke SP Bir Bahadur Oli said police had arrested two human traffickers as well. 

According to National Human Rights Commission, as many as 13,678 Nepali nationals had gone missing in the last year. Of them, only 47 per cent was found. The missing people are suspected to have been trafficked.