The Esther Benjamins Memorial Foundation (EBMF) has rescued 16 trafficked Nepali girls from the Amar Circus, in Haryana state of India.

In a statement on Wednesday, the foundation said that its field workers had liaised with the girls’ families before dispatching a rescue team in the weekend. “But just before the team left, the Circus, which had been tipped off about the forthcoming visit, sent nine girls back to Nepal accompanied by two staff members,” it said.

One of the staff of the circus accompanying the girls to Nepal remains in police custody in Hetauda. Family members were then able to collect another two girls independently.

On Tuesday, the rescue team, led by EBMF director Shailaja CM and Ganesh Shrestha joined new local partner ChildLine India in a visit to the circus that led to the release of a further five girls all aged below twenty. The team will return Nepal by Thursday.

“After their return, they will spend some time with families before joining the EBMF rehabilitation programme in Kathmandu and Hetauda,” the foundation said.

The foundation has already rescued almost 270 girls from Indian circuses since 2004.