434 at risk of trafficking rescued from Jamunaha checkpoint

NEPALGUNJ: A total of 434 women and girls vulnerable to trafficking were rescued from the Jamunaha checkpoint in Nepalgunj in the year 2021.

According to Maiti Nepal Nepalgunj coordinator Keshav Koirala, among the rescued ones, 432 were reconnected with family and subsequently educated about human trafficking and safe migration.

The majority of the rescued ones were from Surkhet district, shared Koirala, adding that 11 people who were sexually abused were also among the rescued ones.

The Maiti Nepal received 525 applications requesting the search for missing persons in 2021. Out of them, only 23 were found, Koirala said. 

Search and rescue operations have not become effective in lack of mechanism with the state in this regard, said Koirala. 

Similarly, the whereabouts of 322 who left for India and other countries through the same checkpoint was unknown, according to Maiti Nepal. Efforts were being made coordinating with social organizations and government agencies abroad to find out their whereabouts.