The Embassy of Nepal in India announced the rescue of 453 Nepalese citizens from an alleged cyber fraud in the Kushinagar district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, after a coordinated effort in which the Indian and Nepali authorities participated.
In a press release issued by the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi on Sunday, the rescue operation was carried out in coordination with the Uttar Pradesh Police, relevant Indian government agencies and the NGO KIN India.
This operation came in the wake of reports of Nepalese citizens being subjected to labor exploitation and fraudulent practices in the border areas of India. Based on this information, the police carried out operations at multiple locations in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
As a result, a total of 453 Nepalese nationals, including 115 women and 338 men, were rescued on May 29 and were subsequently handed over to the District Police Office in Rupandehi for further processing.
The embassy reported that authorities in Rupandehi detained 19 individuals, including six women, on suspicion of involvement in the alleged fraud network. The investigation is currently underway.
The Embassy of Nepal expressed appreciation for the coordinated efforts and thanked the Uttar Pradesh Government, Uttar Pradesh Police, Nepal Police, KIN India, and all the agencies that directly or indirectly contributed to the rescue mission.
Reiterating its commitment to the safety and well-being of Nepalese citizens residing or working in India, the Embassy urged Nepalese citizens to remain vigilant against fraudulent job offers and other forms of inducement, especially those promoted through social media or claiming to provide job opportunities abroad.
The embassy stressed that the Government of Nepal and its diplomatic mission in India remain committed to protecting Nepalese citizens and preventing them from falling victim to trafficking, labor exploitation and financial fraud schemes.
Earlier, on May 29, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of a hospital building in Manang district, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu announced.
According to the statement, the stone was laid for the building in Ward No. 5 of the Nason Rural Municipality. “It was jointly drawn up today by Dr. Rakesh Pandey, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Kathmandu, and Dhan Bahadur Gurung, Chairman of Nason Rural Municipality, Manang,” the statement announced.
The hospital building is being constructed with financial assistance from the Government of India amounting to around 56 million Nepalese Rupees. The High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) will be implemented through Nason Rural Municipality in Manang.
The Chairman of Nason Rural Municipality and other stakeholders expressed their appreciation for the development support provided by the Government of India and expressed confidence that the new facility will help promote better access to healthcare services in Nason Rural Municipality.
India and Nepal, as close neighbours, are engaged in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of these projects reflects the continued support provided by the Government of India in strengthening the efforts of the Government of Nepal in promoting growth and development, apart from enhancing infrastructure in priority sectors. (that I)
