Ankit Adhikari

Kathmandu: Notorious human trafficker Kishan Moktan was arrested by India’s Rajasthan Police on Monday. There is a case pending before the Makwanpur District Court against Moktan.

However, due to technical glitches in the extradition process and the Indian authorities’ refusal to hand Moktan over to the Nepal Police (NP) chances are slim that he will be brought to book. Police sources said he is likely to be released by the Indian police after 24 hours of detention.

Police officials, who have initiated a process to bring Moktan back as per the Indo-Nepal Extradition Treaty, said the Indian authorities have refused to hand over the accused to them.

NP’s Interpol Section has made a request based on the personal ties of highranking Nepal Police officials with those in the Indian Interpol, New Delhi, and Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

“As this is the first case of its kind that we have come across, we are clueless as to how the case should be pursued,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kedar Rajauriya, head of NP’s Interpol Section. 

"If we move ahead through formal channels, the process may take ages. As per the Interpol rules, Rajasthan Police may not keep Moktan in its custody for more than 24 hours. If we fail to contact Rajasthan Police in time, the criminal may flee again."

Moktan was arrested Monday night. Rajauriya said everything would be easily sorted out if any official at the Delhi Interpol or Indian Embassy in Kathmandu gives the nod. “Provided that we are supported, we can detain the criminal at the border, or go to Rajasthan to fetch him back,” he said. “We have initiated talks with the Indian Embassy officials. If they instruct officials in India not to hinder the extradition process, we can bring the criminal back.”

Police had been searching for Moktan for the last four years. Moktan, who also owns a circus company in India, has been living there.

The Esther Benjamins Trust, a Nepal-based INGO, tracked down Moktan when he took a circus troupe to Rajasthan during Holi festival.

“Our rescue team which reached Rajasthan on Thursday had taken a letter from Nepal Interpol asking the Indian police to cooperate and arrest the culprit if he was found there,” said Philip Holmes, country director of the Trust.

“As per the letter, police arrested the criminal but refused to hand him over to us.” The Trust’s rescue team also found two Nepali children in the circus run by Moktan.

Published on: 23 March 2011 | The Kathmandu Post