KATHMANDU, Aug 14: The government has intensified efforts to rescue Nepalis held hostage in India, facilitate their return home, and reunite them with their families.

The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens has intensified efforts to rescue Nepalis who were taken to Kashmir, India, under the promise of attractive wages, particularly for road construction work, and were then held hostage and forced to work in conflict zones without wages in dangerous conditions.

Recently, the Ministry's Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai said that they received information through the Indian NGO ‘KIN India’ about seven men from Dhanusha district and 21 men from Siraha district, aged between 24 and 60, who had been held hostage.

Under the initiative and leadership of the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, in coordination with the Nepali Embassy in India and with the technical support and collaboration of ‘KIN India,’ the victims have been rescued and brought to Janakpur.

The Ministry has stated that the rescue and protection of victims and those affected by human trafficking has always been a top priority. Given the sensitivity of this incident, the 28 individuals brought to Dhanusha have been reunited with their families through the District Committee for Human Trafficking and Transportation Control, in the presence of the Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, Secretary Bhattarai, and Joint Secretary Abha Shrestha Karn.