21 Nepali women repatriated
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 12 2020:
A total of 21 Nepali women left Imphal for their hometown today in a bus along with security personnel and representatives of Nepalese Embassy, said a release from the State Social Welfare Department.
According to the release, 20 women are suspected victims of human trafficking and one a mentally ill person.
They have been handed over to Prakash Adhikari, Counsellor, Embassy of Nepal by the State Government after completing due procedures for repatriation back to their homes in Nepal.
All these women were rescued in the months of November and December in 2019 .
Most of these women came to Manipur in small groups both by air and through land routes in four batches, it said.
Eight of them were detained by the Airport Authorities at Imphal International Airport on suspicion due to lack of proper documents while the remaining 12 were apprehended at the international border at Moreh by a team of Moreh police, 43 Assam Rifles and ICP officials.
They were all reportedly bound to travel to Gulf countries like Kuwait, Dubai etc via Myanmar, it said.
All of them were provided shelter and other support services in three Ujjawala homes in Kakching and Chandel run by the State Social Welfare Department.
During their eight months stay at the homes they were provided medical aid, counselling and vocational training.
The mentally ill Nepali woman was found loitering in the paddy fields at Choithar village in Ukhrul on December 7 last year.
She was rescued by the Ukhrul police and has been staying at the Swadhar Home in Ukhrul District, also run by the State Social Welfare department, it said.
She was provided medical and psychological treatment during her stay, it added.
Six officials, four from the Home Department and two from Ujjawala homes have been deputed for the journey till Kakadvitta-Panitanki border in Darjeeling, West Bengal by bus.
This is the second batch of Nepali women who have been rescued and repatriated back to Nepal.
Earlier, 179 Nepalese including 32 men were rescued in Manipur and repatriated back to Nepal in February 2019, the release added.