KATHMANDU, Feb 7: The Kathmandu District Court has jailed four individuals, including immigration officer Narbir Khadka on charges of organized human trafficking.
Khadka, accused of human trafficking and embezzlement, was arrested in December after being identified by a former Russian army recruit.
District Court Judge Kapil Mani Gautam ordered the arrest of Khadka, Arun Dahal, Manoj Tamang, and Saroj Kumar Yadav for their alleged involvement in human trafficking.
Dinesh Gyawali, Rabin Aryal, Padam Lama, Binod Karki, and Ram Prasad Bhandari were released on bail whereas Geeta Shah has been jailed for failing to pay a bail of Rs 500,000.
Human trafficking through Pashupatinagar on the rise
Shah used to identify people willing to go abroad on a visit visa while Dinesh, Rabin, and Ram Prasad used to assist Shah. Manoj and Binod created fake documents.
Dahal, Tamang, and Yadav alleged that names sent abroad under the guise of a “visit visa” were given to immigration officer Khadka.
Khadka, in collusion with other immigration officials, formed a team consisting of Kushal Baral, Shailendra Dhakal, Bimal Paudel, Bishnu Aryal, Bikas Dangol, Pitambar Rimal, and Sujan Phago, who used to allow the people in the list to travel abroad without any restriction.
Other officials of the immigration team, except Khadka, are currently at large.
The crime investigation bureau of Nepal Police had previously probed the organized group involved in trafficking individuals abroad in the guise of seeking employment opportunities.
A team of nine, including Khadka, allegedly orchestrated a scam to send people abroad by creating fake papers and facilitating easy departure from the airport.
The group, involved in creating fake documents and compiling lists, allegedly operated by establishing a systematic network.
The organized group had reportedly created fake papers and sent individuals to Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
