Kalpana Bhattarai
Alok Thapa (24) of the Parbat district did not think this would happen when he left home before Dashain last year. He thought he would reach US as per the plan. And, would get the job and the money as expected.
But, why would it happen as thought? On his way to Bolivia, South America, he was taken hostage in a house in Blantyre, Malawi, South Africa.
Besides Alok, Dinesh Katuwal (30) , Abin Chhetri (22) , Ashok Sharma (28), Suraj Pun (20), Rajan Bhusal (26) were also made hostage. The hostages were offered to pay INRs. 300,000 and $ 25 a day for settlement if they wanted to return back to home. They were tortured mentally and physically.
“We are asked to pay INRs 7 lakh for leaving to Bolivia, ” he said,” After being unable to pay, we were taken hostage.”
Some people used to sneak into their rooms and hit them in the face uttering ‘Money Money ‘. The hostages were also threatened to be killed by taking out their kidneys if they could not pay.
Few months ago (on December 7), the captors had already set the date of life of youngsters along with Alok. The hostage had begun counting, saying one hour 45 minute 30 seconds. However, Malawi police rushed there to rescue them. With the coordination of Malawi Police with the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police, the six lives were saved as they were rescued. However, their dream of moving to America was shattered.
Dinesh has not yet given up. He said, ” After sometime later, I will again go abroad, earn money and will repay the debt.” They declined to disclose how much did it cost to them until they reached East African country Malawi. However, their answer is the same: “We have come back alive and will pay the debt anyway.”
A Year passed by on the way
Most of Alok’s friends and relatives who returned from Dubai two years ago are in the US, Kenya and Africa. A friend in the US suggested him the measures of reaching to America. It was through this that Alok reached out to an Indian agent who used to send people to the South American country of Bolivia. After the agent convinced him that he could reach US and Brazil from Bolivia, he later decided to go to the United States at any cost. With him, Abin Chhetri (22) also made up mind to go to Bolivia.
A year ago, they flew from Nepal to Vietnam via Thailand. They had already become friends when they reached Vietnam from Nepal, who were strangers before, although they were resident in the same district. Everyone had a common dream – America.
They traveled from Nepal to Vietnam. On arriving there, they met another Nepali Dinesh Katuwal (30). He had left a good job in Dubai and was traveling to Bolivia of South America.to earn money.
The agent who were taking them to Bolivia was the same. After arriving in Vietnam on a tourist visa from Nepal, they were kept in the same hotel. They stayed there for 22 days. Then, they were kept at a hotel in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.’ Says Dinesh. “There was good arrangement of fooding, lodging and travelling. They didn’t realize how fast the time had passed away, they were made to wait for 4 months to fly there, ” Abin recalls.
From there, their course changed. Alok traveled to Dubai while the remaining three headed for Madagascar. They stayed at the hotel for 25 days. “There was also a good arrangement of staying and eating”, Suraj Pun added,” Pocket money was also given to us.”
From there, they were taken to Jordan to extend their Visa. When they arrived in Jordan, the four friends met again. They were taken to an apartment. Although many months passed away, We had hope of reaching Bolivia,” Dinesh said,” We didn’t suffer till we reached there.”
35 days later, all four were returned to Dubai. Agents would pay , they would cook and eat in the apartment themselves. They stayed in Dubai for two months.
Then they were taken to Azerbaijan. They spent 18 days there. After 18 days they were taken to Malawi. Then their misery began. So far we had been having fun”, says Dinesh,” This is the point from where misery started. “
On October 2, they arrived in Malawi. The agent who hadn’t appeared during their travel through seven countries, had arrived at the airport to receive them as soon as they reached Malawi. After 15 days, they started asking for money. Beating and mental torture began. They took away their passports and did not even allow to step out.
Back from Malawi
After being held hostage for a month, they finally realized they had been cheated. In an excuse to ask for money from the family, they talked through WhatsApp at home. And, they reported the fraud. Family members reported it to the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau. Bureau officials themselves were also in touch with them. DSP Narahari Regmi of the Bureau forwaded the details of the incident and their WhatsApp message to Malawi police. Accordingly, Malawi police arrived at the location by tracking location.
The agent were unaware of the matter that they were being tracked and chased. The anti-human trafficking squad members of Bureau had rescued them by coordinating with the Malawi police and tracking the place they were residing from the WhatsApp location.
Four of the six, rescued have arrived in Nepal on Monday evening. The remaining two are also scheduled to return to Nepal.
Spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police Govinda Thapaliya said that international gangs involved in human trafficking and making people hostages are being investigated by the Malawi Police and Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau jointly. Malawi police arrested Nazir Ahmed, a Malawian citizen of Indian origin.
(The victims’ address and address have been changed.)
https://nepalmag.com.np/contemporary/2019/11/12/20191112193934
