Sixteen Nepali nationals held captive and forced into labour at a poultry farm in Haryana, India, have been rescued and brought back home, authorities said.

They were taken to Janakpur on Tuesday, and preparations were underway to hand them over to their families.

Among those rescued, seven are under the age of 18.

Binod Kumar Khati, director of KIN India in New Delhi, said the victims were lured to India with promises of employment and later subjected to months of forced labour. He said they were physically and mentally abused during that period and were not paid the agreed wages.

Khati said the rescue operation was launched following information received from the Area Police Office, Bardibas, in Mahottari. The Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, the anti-human trafficking unit under Haryana Police’s Crime Branch, and relevant Indian government agencies coordinated the operation. The poultry farm where the victims were held is located in Matanhail in Haryana’s Jhajjar district.

Preliminary findings show the victims were recruited from various districts of Nepal through promises of well-paid jobs. Middlemen and labour suppliers targeted economically vulnerable families affected by unemployment, offering attractive work opportunities in India. After arriving, they were forced to work in harsh conditions at the poultry farm, without the agreed wages or terms of employment.

Khati, citing the victims, said they were not allowed to leave freely. Those who refused to work were subjected to verbal abuse, threats and psychological pressure, with some cases of physical violence also reported. They were also denied regular wages and forced to live in poor conditions with inadequate food and shelter.

The preliminary investigation found that children were engaged in labour, depriving them of education and basic rights. Indian security agencies have launched further investigations into suspected violations of human trafficking and child labour laws.

Following the rescue, the poultry farm operator and contractors involved in labour supply were arrested. Authorities said legal proceedings have been initiated under provisions related to human trafficking, forced labour and labour exploitation. Around Rs 200,000 in unpaid wages was also reportedly released to the victims.

After the rescue, all 16 Nepali nationals were kept under the protection of the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi for health checks, psychosocial counselling and legal procedures. They were later brought back to Nepal after documentation was completed through coordination between the embassy, Indian authorities and KIN India.

They were accompanied to Nepal under the leadership of rescue officer Man Bahadur from KIN India. Authorities said arrangements were being made to hand them over to their families through the District Police Office, Mahottari, in the presence of the Chief District Officer, Nepal Police and other concerned agencies.

The case highlights continuing concerns over labour exploitation and human trafficking linked to foreign employment opportunities. Khati said broker networks continue to exploit Nepal’s open border with India, targeting vulnerable individuals through false job promises.

He added that in recent years, there has been a rise in cases where Nepali citizens are taken to various Indian states for labour exploitation under the guise of better wages and secure employment. He said open borders, economic hardship, unemployment and lack of awareness continue to contribute to such cases.

The incident has underscored the vulnerability of Nepali workers seeking employment in India. Khati said stronger border monitoring and expanded public awareness on safe migration are essential to prevent further cases.