KATHMANDU: Gana Bahadur BK of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-10 went missing four months ago.
Despite extensive efforts by his family, including placing ‘missing person’ notices in newspapers and on social media, his whereabouts remain unknown.
BK, a retired Nepali Army personnel who served for 15 years, left his family in despair.
His wife, Dhanmaya Karki, is heartbroken, waiting for his return. His brother Maila is actively seeking help, offering a reward for information leading to Gana Bahadur’s discovery.
Similarly, Sameer Sapkota from Panauti Municipality-1 in Kavrepalanchok district has been searching for his father, Ramprasad Sapkota, who vanished 11 years ago.
Ram Prasad had left home saying he was going to India to find work but never returned.
Sameer recalls his father’s promise and laments the enduring absence, while Ram Prasad’s elderly mother and wife remain distraught, unable to cope with the disappearance.
In Jhapa’s Bahradashi Rural Municipality-5, Rajesh Hajam disappeared three months ago.
The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens acknowledges the issue of trafficking but lacks comprehensive data on all missing persons.
He left home after receiving a call but has not been seen since.
Rajesh worked in a salon and was the sole support for his family. His father, Bhim Hajam, is tirelessly searching the streets with his son’s photo and appealing for information, but the case remains unresolved.
These are just a few examples of the growing issue of missing persons in Nepal.
The Nepal Police reports an alarming trend with 46,000 citizens reported missing over the past three years, with half still unaccounted for.
The reasons for these disappearances are varied, including family disputes, mental health issues, and neglect, particularly of the elderly and disabled.
The data highlights a disturbing pattern: In the fiscal year 2078/079 BS, as many as 14,957 individuals went missing, including 7,141 women and 3,249 girls.
The following fiscal year saw an increase to 15,245 missing persons, with 5,425 women and 4,945 girls among them.
Spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki of the Nepal Police notes that many missing persons are victims of family conflict or neglect, and some may be found in ashrams or on the streets.
The phenomenon of individuals disappearing due to pressures or aspirations, such as seeking roles in films or music videos, also contributes to this crisis.
The emotional impact on families of the missing is profound, with ongoing suffering for those who continue to search for their loved ones, while those who have been found often do not fully reintegrate into their previous lives.
Fiscal year 2080/081 BS sees surge in missing persons
In the fiscal year 2080/081 BS, the number of missing persons in Nepal surged to 15,683, highlighting a worsening trend of disappearances.
The statistics reveal a disturbing increase, with women and girls representing a significant portion of those missing.
Last year alone, 5,864 women went missing, alongside 3,145 men. The number of missing girls was notably high, with 4,653 reported as disappeared.
The total also includes 1,656 missing children and 235 elderly individuals.
Over the past three years, the total number of missing women has reached 18,430, compared to 9,317 missing men.
Among children, 12,847 girls have gone missing, while 4,746 boys are unaccounted for. Additionally, 435 elderly people have disappeared.
Recovery and Challenges
Despite the high number of reported disappearances, fewer than half of the missing persons are found.
The Nepal Police reports that out of 45,000 missing citizens over three years, only 25,468 have been located.
Spokesperson Keshav Prasad Upadhyay explains that while the ministry is aware of trafficked individuals, the Nepal Police handle the search for missing persons, and the ministry does not maintain detailed statistics.
This includes 10,500 women, 4,777 men, 2,893 children, 6,955 girls, and 271 elderly individuals.
The low recovery rate is partially attributed to the fact that some missing persons are sold abroad.
Social activist Indraraj Bhattarai highlights that many individuals are trafficked by Nepali brokers and sold to foreign countries, particularly India, where they may face exploitation or forced labor.
“We have managed to bring many Nepalis back to Nepal,” Bhattarai notes.
“However, many children and youths remain enslaved or in distress abroad, and despite their pleas to return, we have been unable to rescue them. The lack of a dedicated organization or governmental interest in addressing this issue further hampers our efforts.”
Government Response
The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens acknowledges the issue of trafficking but lacks comprehensive data on all missing persons.
Spokesperson Keshav Prasad Upadhyay explains that while the ministry is aware of trafficked individuals, the Nepal Police handle the search for missing persons, and the ministry does not maintain detailed statistics.
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