Araria: Fourteen youths from Bihar's Seemanchal region, who traveled to Malaysia in search of better employment, are currently imprisoned in Malaysian jails. The youths, hailing from Purnia, Kishanganj, and Araria districts, have been sentenced to four months for illegal entry and residency. Their families were informed of the sentence on October 1, 2026, intensifying their concerns.

Mujahid Alam, former MLA of Kochadhaman, has written to the Additional Secretary of Bihar's Emigration Protector's Office in Patna, demanding immediate intervention. He alleges that Nahid Ghani, a resident of Rauta police station area in Purnia, entices poor and uneducated youths with promises of high earnings abroad, then sends them to Malaysia illegally.

According to the letter, each youth was charged between one and a half to two lakh rupees and transported to Malaysia via the 'donkey route' instead of legitimate channels. Financially struggling families raised these funds by taking loans, group loans, or selling jewelry and land. Upon reaching Malaysia, the youths were made to work clandestinely and were subsequently detained during the Malaysian government's crackdown on undocumented migrants.

Among the imprisoned youths are Mohd. Siraj from Kashibari Budhi, Palasi police station, and Guddu from Kutti Kanhariya, Jokihat, both in Araria. Several youths from Purnia and Kishanganj are also named in the letter. The former MLA stated that six FIRs were registered against Nahid Ghani in 2026 at Rauta, Kochadhaman, Bahadurganj, and Bishanpur police stations, involving charges of human trafficking and fraud. He has called for an investigation into these cases and strict action against the accused.

Alam further alleged that this network extends beyond Malaysia to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and other Gulf countries, where Seemanchal youths are sent without valid work permits, often leading to imprisonment or forced returns at their own expense. He has urged the Indian embassy to provide legal assistance to the youths, ensure their safe return to India, and conduct a thorough investigation into the entire human trafficking network to bring the culprits to justice. The families are now awaiting concrete action from the government.