Brokers take up to Rs 25,000 for passage to Kerung

RASUWA, Dec 23: Brokers have started collecting commissions for facilitating passage to Kerung after strict provisions were introduced on the entrance to that bazaar in Tibet.

Following the prohibition of the entrance to Kerung for people of young age, children without parents and girls from outer districts, brokers have found a role transporting girls there in return for commissions.

Maiti Nepal's district chapter has claimed that a group is involved in trafficking girls to China.  Maiti Nepal has already sent back to Nepal 110 girls who were being transported to China. It is learned that the brokers take commissions in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000  for trafficking one person to China. The girls generally go to Kerung in search of employment.

District Program Manager for Maiti Nepal, Lalu Maya Ghale, informed that one girl was rescued while she was being trafficked to Kerung through the Rasuwagadhi border crossing. “After the border crossing came into operation, people have been traveling to Kerung for employment,” she said, “We have been trying to monitor this trend.”

Ghale claimed that girls under 20 who are not with their parents have been turned back from the border crossing. Couples who claim to be man and wife are sent back if their marriage has not been registered.