A coordinated operation involving police, intelligence, and administrative agencies has led to the rescue of 453 Nepalese youths, including both young men and women, from an alleged job scam and illegal training network operating in the Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, while the alleged mastermind remains at large.
Operation Initiated After Complaints on Social Media
The operation was launched after several victims contacted the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi via the social media platform X, alleging that they had been lured to India with promises of employment and overseas job opportunities but were instead confined and exploited. The embassy promptly alerted Indian authorities, leading to a coordinated response.
Victims Charged Exorbitant Fees
According to police, each victim was charged between Rs 70,000 and Rs 1 lakh under the pretext of providing professional training and job placement services. Many of the victims had been residing in Kushinagar since January, undergoing what was described as training for prospective jobs. The victims were reportedly kept in rented accommodations and subjected to financial exploitation.
Joint Raid Uncovers Network
Following the complaints, a team from the Nepal Embassy, led by Ambika Joshi, along with SSP Pranesh Mall and Sahara Chapa Gayatri, visited Kushinagar and held meetings with district administration and police officials. Subsequently, a joint team comprising the Special Task Force (STF), Crime Branch, Special Operations Group (SOG), Surveillance Cell, and local police conducted raids at a facility operating under the name Vince Pyre World Company on Sapaha Road in Kasya town. However, by the time the teams arrived, the alleged operator had already fled, shutting down the center.
Victims Traced to Rented Accommodations
Kushinagar Superintendent of Police Keshav Kumar stated that investigators later traced the victims to several rented accommodations in the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Nagar area of Kasya. "We rescued all 453 Nepalese nationals and arranged their transportation to the Sonauli border, where they were safely handed over to Nepal Police authorities," Kumar said. The victims were provided with food, water, and medical assistance before being transported.
Arrests and Legal Action
Based on a complaint lodged by police outpost in-charge Gaurav Srivastava, Kasya police registered an FIR against eight named accused and eight to ten unidentified persons on charges including cheating and other relevant offenses. Those arrested have been identified as Deepak Thapa, Ganesh Khatri, Meena Therpa, Vishnu Rana, Soujanya Chantan, Vishal Tamang, Om Prakash Chawla, and Om Prakash Sharma. The arrested individuals include seven Nepalese nationals and one Indian citizen.
Network Operated Under Multiple Fronts
The SP revealed that the accused were allegedly operating from multiple locations in Kushinagar, including Fazilnagar Road, near Jain Building on Deoria Road, and an old-age home premises. According to investigators, an organized network of Nepalese men and women was functioning under the guise of institutes named Winspire Fashion Design and Royal Fashion Design Institute. These institutes were used to lure victims with promises of lucrative employment and business opportunities in India and abroad.
Forged Documents and Financial Exploitation
Police further alleged that the racket used forged documents purportedly linked to reputed companies and, in some cases, arranged Indian Aadhaar cards to gain the confidence of Nepalese nationals and draw them deeper into the network. The victims were then subjected to sustained financial exploitation, with the accused collecting money under the pretext of training programs and guaranteed job placements.
Modus Operandi
Officials said the accused projected themselves as influential individuals with strong connections in India and used Indian-registered vehicles and Indian mobile SIM cards to facilitate their operations and avoid suspicion. The network was able to operate for months without detection, raising questions about local oversight.
Ongoing Investigation
"We have received information that some other Nepalese citizens linked to the network may still be present in Kasya. Search operations are continuing. We are also investigating whether any local individuals were involved in facilitating or supporting the network," the SP said. Police are now examining financial transactions, recruitment channels, document trails, and possible cross-border links to determine the full extent of the alleged job scam and human exploitation network. Investigators are also probing the role of local facilitators and how hundreds of foreign nationals were brought to and accommodated in Kushinagar over several months without attracting attention from authorities.
The rescue operation has been hailed as a significant success in combating human trafficking and job scams. Authorities have urged other potential victims to come forward and report similar incidents.
