A group of cricket supporters on Monday staged a peaceful protest against what has been claimed as ‘human trafficking’ in the pretext of a cricket tour in Japan.

Former U-19 cricketers, representing West Kathmandu Football Cricket, had participated in Honda Cup in Japan but it has been blamed that nine non-cricketers were smuggled in the pretext of the tour. The supporters demanded the government to investigate on the issue and bring the guilty to the court. The nine individuals, who left for Japan as players, is said to have gone missing from the team during the tour. Siddhanta Lohani, who has already played for the national team, along with Saurav Khanal, Prem Tamang, Amit Shrestha, Faijlur Rehman Khan and Sonu Tamang had played the tournament.

The tour is said to have been managed by Sundar Thapa, a former Boys Union Club goalkeeper, and Kiran Rana, secretary in the elected Cricket Association of Nepal. Thapa and Rana both are accused of being involved in helping the nine individuals go missing in Japan. But both claimed their innocence.