Five Nepali workers, who were held hostage in Afghanistan for 45 days after being lured with job opportunities in the country, have been rescued. The Nepali workers had paid Rs 500,000 each to their agent who took them to Kabul via New Delhi.

After being informed about the incident, Islamabad-based Nepali Embassy took the initiative to rescue the Nepali workers heldhostage in Afghan capital. “Agents are still taking Nepali workers to unidentified destinations in Kabul via Delhi,” said an official at the embassy, “It took us 15 days to complete the process and bring back the workers who were confined in a room in Kabul.”

The workers-- identified as Nawaraj Thapa and Prabesh Thapa of Sindhupalchwok, Chitra Bahadur Thapa of Lamjung, Arjun Rana Magar of Gulmi and Ram Chandra Phuyal of Tanahu-- were rescued from Kabul and are in the process of returning home after their relatives sent them their plane tickets. The victims have filed a complaint at the Foreign Ministry through saying that agents Raju Gurung, Nitu Gurung and Rupesh Shahi, stationed at different entry points, left them stranded. The workers claimed that the agents failed to provide them with jobs as promised in the contract after reaching Kabul.

Published on: 9 February 2015 | The Kathmandu Post