Patna: The 45th battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), deployed along the India-Nepal border in Supaul district, foiled a major human trafficking attempt and rescued eight minor children. Two traffickers were arrested during the operation at the Bhimnagar check post on Monday night.The operation was conducted by personnel of the Border Outpost Bhimnagar as part of a routine vehicle-checking. While checking commuters heading from India towards Nepal, SSB jawans grew suspicious of a group comprising eight children accompanied by two adult men. Upon interrogation, the men failed to provide any valid documents of the children and kept changing their versions, raising suspicion.Further questioning and investigation revealed that the children were lured away from their homes under false pretences. Their families were told the minors were being taken on a recreational trip, whereas the real intention was to exploit them as child workers.The arrested persons were identified as Sundar Sada (32), and Umesh Rishidev (38), both residents of Nepal’s Sunsari district in Koshi Province. Preliminary probe indicated that the duo initially trafficked the children from Nepal into India for illegal work and were now attempting to take them back across the border.Inspector of the 45th battalion, Hiteshwari Mishra, said given the vulnerability of the India-Nepal border to human trafficking, the SSB has been carrying out sustained and intensive checking at all border check posts. “This operation is part of our ongoing efforts to curb such illegal activities. The minors, all from Nepal, were rescued from the Bhimnagar check post (at SSB zero line). The route is for trade and transit,” she added.“During interrogation, it came to light that the traffickers brought them to Bihar for labour work during the wedding season, and they were caught while returning to Nepal. The kids, all boys, were handed over to their parents,” Mishra told this newspaper on Tuesday.All legal formalities were completed in coordination with the SSB’s anti-human trafficking unit. The rescued children were safely handed over to the Nepal Police Station in Bhantawari, Sunsari district, for further necessary action and rehabilitation.