Five Bangladeshis, two Nepalis arrested for kidnapping, extortion 

Police have rescued four Bangladeshis who were held hostage in a guest house in Kathmandu 

Narayan Adhikari

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Kathmandu: In a major crackdown on transnational crime, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Division has arrested five Bangladeshis and two Nepalis involved in human trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion.

The individuals arrested, according to Nepal Police, targeted vulnerable Bangladeshi nationals who were seeking job opportunities. 

The arrested have been identified as Amir Hossain, 47, Salim Mia, 38, MD Mosiur Rahman, 37, and Jahangir Alam, 21, from Bangladesh, along with Thamim Begam, 21, from Bangladesh, and Roshani Rai and Tara Nepali from Nepal.

Upon the arrival of the Bangladeshi individuals in Kathmandu, the kidnappers held them captive and demanded heft ransoms from their families. “They lured Bangladeshi citizens with promises of sending them to other countries via Nepal. The arrested coerced victims’ families into paying ransoms as high as Rs 1 million,” said Senior Superintendent Manoj KC, head of the Division.

The kidnappers issued threats to end the lives of their captives if the ransoms were not paid. In response, Shekh Panir, a relative of one victim, transferred funds to Husain Mothasokahamrak’s bank account. As the threats persisted, Abu Buk Siddhique approached the Tourist Police in Bhrikutimandap and filed a complaint.

Police then arrested seven individuals involved in the kidnapping. Investigations found that the group had held hostage the victims to room numbers 310 and 311 at the Memorial Guest House in Kalimati. 

Police have already rescued four Bangladeshi nationals who were held captive in Kathmandu.