A 10-year-old girl, who went missing from her home in Tilottama Municipality-10, Rupandehi, has been rescued after 37 hours. Police have arrested a man suspected of kidnapping her and hiding her in a forest.
The girl disappeared in the early hours of October 2 while sleeping at home with her five-year-old brother and grandparents. Her grandfather noticed she was missing when he woke up during the night.
Family and neighbors began searching for her, and the police from the Area Police Office, Mangalapur, were called to assist. Search efforts expanded to nearby houses, fields, bushes, and forest areas.
Police later brought in additional personnel from Butwal, with around 150 officers involved in the search.
Girl Found Alone in the Forest
During the investigation, police focused on 27-year-old Yuvraj Tharu, also known as Bishal, from Tilottama Municipality-17. They discovered he often stayed in forest areas, leading them to intensify their search there.
A team of police and local residents entered the Chakrahawa forest area in Tilottama-10, where they eventually found the missing girl alone after about 37 hours. At the time of her rescue, she was unable to speak.
She was quickly taken to Lumbini Provincial Hospital for medical care and later placed in a police-operated safe house before being reunited with her family.
Suspected Kidnapper Shot During Arrest
Although the girl was rescued, the suspected kidnapper was still at large. Police continued to search for Tharu, eventually locating him in a paddy field in Tilottama-17.
When police attempted to arrest him, Tharu resisted, leading officers to open fire. He was shot below the knee and taken into custody.
Tharu is currently receiving treatment at Lumbini Provincial Hospital. Police recovered a knife and an iron rod from him.
Initial investigations suggest Tharu kept the girl alone in the forest during her time missing. Authorities are continuing their investigation to clarify the circumstances of the alleged kidnapping and to determine if anyone else was involved.
The girl is now safely back with her family after the rescue operation.