A 16-year-old boy from Saptari, Shivkumar Sada, who went missing from his home 10 years ago, was reunited with his family on Sunday, October 4, 2026, after being located in New Delhi, India.
Shivkumar, then approximately six years old, disappeared from Agnisair Krishnasavaran Rural Municipality-6, Saptari, Madhesh Province. His family, led by his father Rishidev Sada, had been searching for him continuously for the past 10 years.
The breakthrough came when the Saptari District Police Office, the local police authority, received information that Shivkumar was in New Delhi. The office then coordinated with King India, a Delhi-based organization that assists in finding missing children, to trace him.
Navin Joshi, director of King India, worked closely with Deputy Superintendent of Police Hemraj Ghimire, the acting chief of the Saptari District Police Office, to facilitate Shivkumar’s return to Nepal. Shivkumar was brought to the Saptari District Police Office around 8 PM on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
He was subsequently handed over to his father, Rishidev Sada, in the presence of local representatives, including Ashok Kumar Acharya, the Ward Chairman of Agnisair Krishnasavaran Rural Municipality-6, according to the Saptari District Police Office.
Human trafficking concerns in Madhesh Province
Shivkumar’s reunion highlights concerns about human trafficking in Madhesh Province. The issue is no longer merely a cross-border problem but is deeply entrenched within the social fabric of the region.
The methods of human trafficking have evolved, with children and young people often lured to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai under false pretenses, including promises of religious tours, medical treatment, or employment opportunities.
According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Uma Prasad Chaturvedi of Madhesh Province police, the provincial government is prepared to collaborate with all stakeholders in the campaign against human trafficking. Over the past three years, 41 human trafficking cases have been registered across various districts in Madhesh Province.
Nepal Police has also reported instances of rescuing Nepali children who were being illegally taken to India via routes like Bardiya. In one notable case, 15 Nepali children were rescued from India in September 2026.
Unanswered questions remain
While the Sada family celebrates Shivkumar’s return, several questions about his decade-long disappearance remain unanswered. Details regarding how he reached New Delhi and how he survived there for 10 years are not yet known. It is also unclear whether he was a victim of human trafficking or if other circumstances led to his disappearance.
Further information about his physical and mental health following his reunion, and the support that will be provided by his family or government agencies for his social rehabilitation, is also not yet available.
