Bajura, Aug. 21: India is a major destination for many poor individuals in Nepal looking for a job. However, there have been several instances when Nepalis returning home from India with some hard-earned money are being robbed.

According to Nepalis from western provinces who have worked in India, such incidents are most common in areas between India's Ananda Bihar to Gauriphanta and Ananda Bihar to Banbasa sections.

Paras Bahadur Thapa, a resident of Ward No. 1 of Budhiganga Municipality in Bajura district and his wife were two of the many who have been robbed after arriving in Ananda Bihar, India.

"We were returning with the aim of reaching our house on August 18. We got tickets to Dhangadhi, Nepal, from Ananda Bihar and boarded the direct vehicle," said Paras.

However, the couple was not taken towards Dhangadhi.

"We were told that the vehicle would go to Dhangadhi via Gauriphanta from Ananda Bihar. Since we did not know the route, we did not find out that we were being taken to somewhere else," Paras recalled. According to the couple, they were left in a forest after being robbed by an unknown group.

"We were left stranded in the forest for two days," Paras added.

According to Bal Bahadur Thapa, owner of Bajura Thapa Hotel in Mahendranagar of Kanchanpur district in Nepal, Paras had arrived the Mahendranagar Bus Park on foot with an empty stomach.

"Paras neither had money nor anything valuable because everything was robbed. I took the duo to my hotel, fed them and bought tickets for their home," said Bal Bahadur.

Locals and authorities informed that several youths who were robbed along the route have gone missing.

Two brothers – Tek Bahadur and Arjun – from Ward No. 5 of Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality in Bajura were robbed in Rishikesh while returning from Pauri, India, on May 18.

Tek Bahadur, the younger brother, was able to come in contact after two months while Arjun, the elder brother, is still missing.

Nepali workers in India argued that the security agencies did nothing to ensure their safety despite similar incidents taking place frequently.

"Robbers are not only giving food with medicines and robbing people after they fainted; now, they also give fake assurances of cheaper fares on vehicles and rob the returnees," said Paras.

Hotelier Bal Bahadur informed that several Nepali youths returning from India arrived in Mahendranagar after being robbed of everything in possession.

"On August 18, two men from Dhakari, Achham, were found unconscious in a forest in Banbasa area. They were robbed and left helpless," said Bal Bahadur.

"The duo was given medicine in the food they ate in Banbasa, India and were later robbed. They are currently receiving treatment at Mahakali Hospital," said Bal Bahadur.

Published on: 21 August 2023 | The Rising Nepal