Five persons sent to jail for involvement in human trafficking

A gang involved in trafficking of a 16-year-old girl to India has been sent to jail on the charge of human trafficking and smuggling and organised crime.

Out of eight people sued in two separate cases, three got clean chit while five persons were sent to jail. A single bench of Judge at District Court, Dhading, Gopal Prasad Bastola, issued a verdict on Friday. In addition to jail term, they have been imposed fine, and monetary compensation to the victim.

The District Court handed down the jail term of 18 years and nine months in one case, while 10 years in another case to Gita Neupane, 29, of Tripurasundari rural municipality-3 in Dhading, Kabita Baniya (Acharya), 32, of Kageshwori Manahara municipality-6 in Kathmandu, Kamala Pariyar, 33, of Necha Salyan rural municipality-2 in Solukhumbu.

Similarly, they were charged Rs 175,000 in fine and Rs 50,000 in compensation to the victim, said record keeper Madhav Bhandari.

Likewise, Kopil Damai, 39, of Tripurasundari-1 and Kalpana Ale Magar, 39, of Tripurasundari-3 were sent to jail for 15 years along with the fine of Rs 100,000.

The 16-year-old girl was rescued from Mangalbazaar Tole No 2 of Delhi, India, on January 4, 2023 at the initiative of Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau, and brought back to home.

The family members of the girl had filed a written compliant at police for searching the girl after she lost contact with family members since December 5, 2022.

Close friends and neighbouring women were found involved in trafficking the girl to India. She had been living in her maternal uncle’s home.