Bhandari himself has admitted that he took money from 25 people for kidney removal. But the police said that Bhandari was involved in selling the kidneys of more than 100 people.
What you should know
Shyamakrishna Bhandari of Sindhupalchok has revealed that people from different districts of Nepal are involved in kidney smuggling by taking them to India. According to the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, 38-year-old Bhandari, a resident of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-7, was involved in kidney trafficking of more than 100 people.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Krishna Prasad Pangeni, the head of the bureau, said that during the initial interrogation, Bhandari had visited the Real Hospital in Greater Noida, India and He has admitted to taking money from 25 people by coordinating with the staff and agents of various clinics. But the police said that they have come to know that Bhandari is involved in selling the kidneys of more than 100 people.
His team used to lure poor people from Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Sindhuli, Nuwakot, Dhading and other districts to Delhi. SSP Pangeni informed about the incident and said, 'They mobilized a team in an organized manner saying that if they donate a kidney, a person will not die and it will not affect their health.
The police also said that the person who was searched and taken in that way will be arranged for a vehicle from Nepal and taken to Delhi. The person was taken to a hotel in Kasturwa Niketan in Lajpat Nagar, Delhi and arrangements were made to stay and eat.
The police also said that before the kidney was removed, they were taken out of the hotel, blindfolded, kept in a car, and injected with a log in an unknown place. After the kidney was removed by the gang, he was kept in the hospital for 3/4 days and sent to Nepal in a car. The hospital staff used to come to the hotel and collect blood samples. 5 victims have filed complaints. Police have registered 4 cases in this incident. According to the victims, Bhandari's team was greedy to give 6 lakh Nepalese rupees for donating a kidney to a person. But they mentioned in the complaint that they did not give the said amount.
Bhandari had also made India's Aadhaar card. He was living in Lajpat city for 3 years. Bhandari has been arrested by the police from Mahendranagar. Similarly, Sujan Bharti, who worked as his assistant, has also been arrested by the police from Birgunj. In his statement with the police, Bharti said that he also sold the kidney. He used to stay in Delhi and work as Bhandari's assistant. He was involved in the 'care and arrangement' of Nepalis going to donate kidneys from Nepal. After removing a person's kidney, he charged 40,000 Nepalese rupees per person.
Trafficker's net was broken with 'Operation Life Shield'
The Human Trafficking and Investigation Bureau launched 'Operation Life Shield' to arrest gangs involved in the sale of human organs. SP Narendra Kunwar informed that the gang members were arrested within a few days of the operation. Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Kavrepalanchokat Police have arrested 3 members Rakesh Nepali, Sameer Nepali and Rajkumar Nepali, who were involved in kidney extraction on 20th of July. Based on their statements, the police reached Shyamakrishna Bhandari, who had an illegal kidney business network in Delhi.
The police have also informed that action under the Organized Crime Act has been initiated against those arrested. Senior Superintendent of Police Pangeni also said that under the Act, those involved in human trafficking and illegal organ trafficking will be imprisoned for 10 years and fined from 2 lakh to 5 lakh rupees. According to the Prevention of Organized Crime Act 2070, there is a legal provision that the punishment prescribed for related crimes can be increased.
Earlier, 37-year-old Khil Bahadur Bhujel of Sindhuli came into contact with the police and while investigating, Rakesh Nepali, Sameer Nepali and Rajkumar Nepali named Kumar were arrested.
"The person who took me to India because I could get an easy job in the hotel took out my kidney," Bhujel said in his statement to the police, "He said he would give me 6 lakhs". Fearing that they will have to bear all the expenses incurred so far, 5 people, including me, had their kidneys removed at an undisclosed clinic in Chandigarh. After the kidney removal, he did not give me the money even though he offered me money when he returned to Nepal.' According to him, his kidney was removed on July 9.
It is mentioned in the complaint that Samir Nepali and Rakesh Nepali took the victim Bhujel to the apartment and took care of it. Rajkumar Periyar and Samir Nepali, who brought five people including him to Nepal after their kidneys were removed, Bhujel has given a statement to the police.
