Thirty five underage girls were rescued from two dance bars in Thamel, Kathmandu, on Wednesday.
A police team deployed by the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Circle, Lainchaur, rescued the girls who were working in Bebo Dance Bar and Amir Lounge Bar.
The team also arrested the bar owners Nabin Gurung, Bishwo Shrestha and Raju Lama for investigation.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Gautam KC, 12 girls were rescued from Bebo Dance Bar and 23 from Amir Lounge Bar. The girls, aged between 15-17, were found working as dancers and waitresses in the two dance bars.
They were rescued as part of ‘Rescue Underage Children’ campaign, which was launched by the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range two weeks ago.
The rescued girls were handed over to their parents. Most of them were from the earthquake-affected districts of Sindhupalchok, Kavre, Dhading, Nuwakot and Gorkha.
DSP KC said the girls came from poor economic background. They were waiting tables and dancing for customers to support themselves.
“We hear about girls being trafficked to India and other parts of the world, but in the recent times, intra-trafficking of young girls and women has also increased. These girls and women are highly vulnerable to sexual and labour exploitation,” said Sumnima Tuladhar, executive director of Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN).
Anup Ojha was a reporter for The Kathmandu Post primarily covering social issues, crime, and human interest stories since 2011. Before moving to the social beat, Ojha covered arts and culture for the Post for four years.
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