Amid deepening shortage of essentials and fuel in the country, the trend of using children to smuggle goods and petroleum products from across the border in increasing in Dhanusa lately. Local traders said an organised group of smugglers ask children aged 10 to 15 to smuggle essential goods from across the border.

 

Displacement of Nepal Police beats has encouraged smuggling of essential goods, including petroleum products from India. It has been said that a child earns anything between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 in a day by smuggling goods.

 

A local trader of Mahinathapur in India said that children smuggle essentials from Indian cities to Nepal. The goods are then supplied to various cities in the country.

 

A school teacher at Aurahi in Dhanusa said schools in the Tarai remain closed due to the protest launched by the United Democratic Madhesi Front and children are being used in such illegal trade.

“Even small kids are being used in such illegal trade, lured into money,” he said.