A local elected official in western Nepal has been arrested on charges of human trafficking, sexual assault and fraud after allegedly luring a young woman with promises of sending her to the United States and extorting millions of rupees from her, police said.
Shiva Bahadur Thapa, 44, the ward chair of Putalibazar Municipality-4 in Syangja district, was arrested from Pokhara Metropolitan City-17 on April 28, according to Nepal Police’s Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau.
Authorities said Thapa befriended the victim through WhatsApp and promised to send her to the United States for 6 million Nepali rupees (about $40,000 at the current exchange rate). The woman had initially planned to travel to Dubai for foreign employment.
On April 24, 2021, Thapa took the victim from Kathmandu to Dubai, where she was kept in a hotel for about a month. Police said he later arranged a visit visa through an agent, collecting her passport, photographs and 35,000 dirhams (about $9,500 at the current exchange rate).
From Dubai, the victim was allegedly trafficked through Bahrain, Turkey, Brazil and Peru before being taken to Colombia, where she was held captive for about a year. During that time, she was subjected to physical and mental abuse, including rape, under the pretext of being sent to the United States, the bureau said.
When the victim asked to be returned to Nepal, Thapa allegedly demanded more money and threatened her with harm if she failed to pay. Fearing for her life, she transferred a total of $98,900 through bank accounts and Western Union with the help of a friend in the United States. Police said the accounts were provided by Thapa.
After receiving the money, Thapa allegedly arranged for agents to move the victim from Colombia through the Panama jungle toward the Mexico border. However, after reaching Mexico, the agents demanded an additional $20,000 and abandoned her when she could not pay.
Stranded in Mexico, the victim later managed to return to Nepal on April 15, 2026 (Baisakh 2, 2083 BS), with the help of relatives in the United States and coordination from the Nepali Embassy, using a one-way travel document, police said.
Based on her complaint, a police team arrested Thapa in Pokhara. He faces charges of human trafficking, and further investigation is underway, said Superintendent of Police Rajan Limbu, information officer at the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau.
Thapa was elected ward chair in the 2022 local elections as a candidate of the Nepali Congress. After serving in the role for about 15 months, he handed over responsibilities to ward member Lilawati Paudel on Aug. 31, 2023, citing medical treatment, and subsequently went out of contact.
It was later revealed that he had arrived in the United States.
He returned to Nepal only about two months ago, according to officials. During his time abroad, the municipality continued to pay him service benefits totaling 276,190 Nepali rupees between mid-September 2023 and mid-July 2024, officials said.
Bhawani Prasad Panday
View More PostsBhawani Prasad Panday is a Nepali journalist based in Butwal, a thriving commercial center in Lumbini Province, Nepal. Renowned for his engaging coverage of local issues, Panday explores topics such as economic growth, social challenges, and cultural events. Currently, he writes for NepYork, addressing a broad spectrum of subjects ranging from community concerns to international developments.
