Kathmandu, January 19
Fifty-three Interpol member-states are taking part in the 23rd Asia-Pacific Regional Interpol Conference that began in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
At the conference, Nepal Police IG Upendra Kanta Aryal will present a working paper on steps that Nepal has taken against human trafficking. Recently, NP had arrested some suspects on the charge of trafficking Nepali women in African countries like Tanzania and Kenya. Special Bureau DIG Bam Bahadur Bhandari will present a working paper on terrorism in Nepal.
Nepal Police has been accusing police forces of destination countries of not helping with rescue of trafficked Nepali women. It will raise the issue of rescue of trafficked women, action against traffickers and help that countries concerned should provide in bringing the victims home.
Inter-police tieup a must
Hemanta Malla, former DIG, Nepal Police, said raising the issue of human trafficking is not enough. He said NP should also expand relations with police forces from other countries.
Central Investigation Bureau had brought to the fore trafficking of Nepali women into China when Malla was its chief. A marriage bureau used to push these women into the northern neighbour, according to the probe. Police arrested bureau members, but rescue of trafficked Nepali women has not been possible thus far.
Former DIG Malla pointed that the government of Nepal has not bothered to rescue Nepali women sold in China and other parts of the world. He pointed that Nepal Police should establish relations with police forces of countries where Nepali nationals have landed for jobs. ‘Only through cooperation between police forces of countries concerned can the criminals be brought to book.’
Lanka emerging as a hub
Of late, Sri Lanka, apart from India, has emerged as a major point through which human traffickers take Nepali women to different countries. Traffickers first take the victims to India and take them to other parts of the world through Sri Lanka, whose police chief is attending the conference. It is said there are crime syndicates in Sri Lanka that supply Nepali women to different countries.
A DSP at Nepal’s Crime Investigation Bureau says Nepal Police should take special initiatives this time to bring such syndicates under the purview of law.
India not cooperating
It should be noted that Nepal Police had helped Indian Police arrest Yasin Bhatkal and Abdul Karim Tunda, accused of involvement in terrorist attacks in India.
Despite this kind of cooperation from Nepal, India has not shown willingness in helping bust armed groups that are posing national security challenges in Nepal, while their leaders are operating from India. This time, DIG Bhandari will raise the issue of activities of armed groups in Nepal’s Terai.
Bhandari says: CK Raut and some old outfits are also posing security challenges to Nepal.
Security agencies feel that Jwala Singh and Jaya Krishna Goit are emerging as security challenges in Mid-Terai region of Nepal, of late. Both are operating from India. A Special Bureau officer says: We have repeatedly asked India for help in arresting people like Goit and Jwala Singh, to no avail.
A great job on wildlife front
Of late, Interpol is focusing on controlling wildlife smuggling. Interpol secretary-general Jurgen Stock says smuggling of wildlife parts has emerged as a major challenge for Asia.
Talking to journalists, Stock lauded Nepal for bringing notorious rhino poacher Raj Kumar Praja under the purview of law. There has been no wildlife poaching in Nepal for the past four years, Stock said, praising Nepal for this feat.
