Eight underage girls rescued from spas in Pokhara

POKHARA: Eight underage girls have been rescued from various spas operating in the Lakeside area of Pokhara.

According to the District Police Office in Kaski, the girls were rescued after being found to have been employed in hazardous work during an inspection. Legal action has also been initiated against the involved spas.

A joint team from the Kaski police and the Social Development Division of Pokhara Metropolitan City carried out inspections on Monday after receiving information that several spas in the major tourist hub of Lakeside were employing girls under the age of 18.

During the inspection, three spa centres were found to be violating the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2000, by engaging underage girls in dangerous work. The eight rescued girls, along with the spas involved, have been referred to the Kaski Labour and Employment Office for further action.

DSP Hari Bahadur Basnet, the spokesperson for Kaski police, said four girls were rescued from Evander Beauty and Spa, and two each from Porcelain Spa and Tara Hill Lodge Spa & Beauty Care.

Kaski police had also rescued minors from Lakeside spas during similar inspections last year.