Kathmandu. Even amidst the grave situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, human traffickers have been caught under varied pretexts. A total of 12 young women were rescued on Saturday with the help of the District Police Office of Parsa.

Eleven young women from different districts were rescued as they were being taken to India through alternative border crossings of Parsa. They were told that they were brought to perform in dance programs in Lahan and Sarlahi. The rescued girls are presently under the protection of Aafanta Nepal.

The girls had departed from Balaju in Kathmandu to perform on stage along with the promise of a payment of Rs. 2,000 on a daily basis. After reaching the forest of Pathalaiya, they were divided into different groups and taken to the Nepal-India border. During their attempt, 4 people were rescued from the border while 7 others were rescued from the Indian side. A young man in the company of the rescued girls has been arrested.

As per the Police, the incident is being investigated by the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau and District Police Office, Parsa. Indra Raj Bhattarai, the director of Aafanta Nepal, mentions that human traffickers have become more active due to the chaos introduced in people’s lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of rescued expressed, “I used to dance in a shooting unit but everything is closed now. It was difficult to make ends meet and so agreed to their offer. My life was almost ruined but I am happy to have been rescued in time.”

Aafanta Nepal’s Manu Rana mentioned that a 19-year-old girl from Sindhupalchowk district was rescued with the help of police. The girl, Rana confirmed, was promised health treatment and was being taken across the border by the alternative route in Chhipaharmai village of Parsa district.