According to the police, Prem Bajagain of Hokse- 1 and Manoj Raut of Panauti-8 were arrested for their alleged involvement in the kidney trade.[break]
“A numbers of complaints were gathering dust in the district police office. We arrested the culprits as they had been luring villagers into selling their kidney for money,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Krisnaji Adhikari.
According to Adhikari, Bajagain and Raut have already admitted to their crime.
Police also seized dozens of citizenships certificates and kidney treatment prescriptions from Raut´s house.
Shyam Thakuri, a local, had lodged a complaint with the police, stating that Bajagain had sold one of his kidneys for Rs 150,000 three years ago in India. Similarly, Shyam Budhathoki of Hoske-1 also filed a complaint against two other kidney racketeers -- Rajan Darji and Gautam KC. Budhathoki has claimed that they sold his kidney in India some 13 years ago. According to Budhathoki, they had promised to pay him 500,000 but later only paid him Rs 300,000.
“Bajagain and Raut may face up to 10 years in jail or a fine of Rs 500,000 or both if proven guilty,” added Adhikari.
The locals are happy to see the kidney racketeers arrested. “Until police arrests all members of the kidney racket, kidney trade will continue in the district,” said Badri Dhungana, another local.
As per the record maintained by the district police office, 79 people in the district have sold their kidneys. Despite government the ban on trade in kidney and other human parts, kidney trade is on the rise in Kavre district.
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