3 Indians held hostage in Nepal rescued, 5 arrested

Nepal Police on Saturday rescued three Indian nationals who were held captive in the Himalayan nation after being duped with promises of job in Australia.

Updated on: Sep 13, 2015, 21:58:48 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal Police on Saturday rescued three Indian nationals who were held captive in the Himalayan nation after being duped with promises of job in Australia.

Police in Birtamod in Jhapa district of far-eastern Nepal also arrested five persons, two Indians and three Nepalis, who were seeking money from the relatives of the hostages in India.

The Indians, one from Rajasthan and two from Gujarat, were being held captive in a rented house for the past 10 days.

“The accused had lured the hostages with online advertisements of lucrative jobs in a fake Australian mining company. But instead of taking them there they were brought to Nepal,” said senior police officer Bhim Dahal.

The accused had told the hostages they would need to pay Rs 9-10 lakhs as processing fees for their jobs and two years visa as skilled workers after landing in Australia.

The accused used computer software that made it appear as if the calls were being made from Australian numbers. But the relatives of the hostages got suspicious and informed police.

Nepal police is coordinating with Indian counterparts to conduct further investigation. The hostages have been sent back to India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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