Increasing use of Birganj route for human trafficking

Birgunj, 21 Feb: Birganj checkpoint in Parsa has become the main ‘transit point’ for human trafficking. It has been found that human traffickers take children, teenagers and women to different cities of India through the crossing, with the intention of getting them married or getting them married to Indian citizens. According to the latest statistics regarding the human trafficking incident in Parsa, during the last six months, 73 people have been rescued by the police from different parts of India and returned to Nepal.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Giri informed that 59 women and 14 girls were rescued from various places in India from July to mid-December of the current fiscal year 2079/80. In the year 2078/79, Parsa police rescued 111 women, 41 girls and 38 boys from different cities of India. Giri said that 85 women, 22 girls and one boy were rescued in the year 2077/78.

In the year 2078-79, 118 women, 133 girls, 45 boys and four senior citizens were reported missing from Parsa, and 115 women, 118 girls, 43 boys and three senior citizens were found, police said. In the year 2077-78, a complaint was filed with the police about the disappearance of 65 women, 31 boys, 93 girls and seven senior citizens in Parsa passing through Birganj crossing.

According to police statistics, 61 women, 29 boys, 90 girls and seven senior citizens were found among them. Brijmohan Kushwaha, President of Human Rescue Nepal, said that there are difficulties in rescuing trafficked children, adolescents and women. Because the laws of both countries are not effective, there is difficulty in rescue”, he said. Paras Prasad of Conservation Nepal informed that 37 boys and 18 girls were rescued in six months of the current year in coordination with the police of various organizations in India.

Mamata Jha, Assistant Director of the District Child Protection Office in Motihari, India, said that it was found that children, teenagers and women are being taken to different places in India under various pretexts and temptations. “The policies and laws of both countries are becoming obstacles in rescue”, he said.