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๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ต Nepal /Disasters & Emergencies

16 Nepalis rescued from forced labor at Haryana poultry farm

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Sixteen Nepali nationals, including seven minors, were rescued from forced labor at a poultry farm in Haryana, India.
  • Victims were lured with job promises but subjected to months of physical and mental abuse, denied wages, and held in poor conditions.
  • The rescue involved coordination between Nepali and Indian authorities, leading to arrests and the recovery of unpaid wages.

Sixteen Nepali nationals, seven of them minors, have been rescued from forced labor at a poultry farm in Haryana, India, and returned to Nepal. They were lured to India with promises of employment but instead faced months of physical and mental abuse, denied agreed-upon wages, and forced to live in squalid conditions.

The rescue operation began after the Area Police Office in Bardibas, Mahottari, received information. The Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, Haryana Police's Crime Branch anti-human trafficking unit, and other Indian agencies collaborated on the operation. The farm is located in Matanhail, Jhajjar district.

Victims reported being recruited from various Nepali districts by middlemen preying on economically vulnerable families. Upon arrival, they were forced to work long hours without proper terms or wages. Those who resisted faced verbal abuse, threats, and psychological pressure, with some instances of physical violence.

The poultry farm operator and labor contractors have been arrested. Authorities initiated legal proceedings for human trafficking, forced labor, and exploitation. Approximately 200,000 Nepali rupees in unpaid wages were reportedly recovered and distributed to the victims. The rescued individuals received health checks, counseling, and legal assistance at the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi before their return.

We have achieved achievements but you have never given us appreciation.

โ€” Natalius PigaiMinister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai expressed his frustration during a working meeting at Commission XIII of the DPR, responding to criticism of the Ministry of Human Rights' budget proposal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.