Child kidnapped in Sunsari rescued safely after 24 hours

KATHMANDU: A seven-year-old girl, Ishu Sada, who was kidnapped in Sunsari on Wednesday, has been successfully rescued by the police within 24 hours.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Suman Kumar Timilsina at the District Police Office, Sunsari, the girl was abducted around 1:40 PM on Wednesday from the front yard of her home in Musahari, Ward No. 7 of Koshi Rural Municipality.

An unknown individual reportedly lured her into a city safari vehicle and took her away.

Upon receiving the information, a team was deployed under the leadership of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Yograj Khatiwada.

A nine-member investigative team was formed, including the Provincial Investigation Team from the Koshi Provincial Police Office, Biratnagar.

The girl was located by the police in the early hours of Thursday, near the 26th gate of the Saptakoshi River Bridge, after extensive efforts. “We managed to rescue the child and avoid any human casualties, and we were able to detain those involved in the kidnapping,” said SP Timilsina.

The main suspect, 31-year-old Jitendra Sah, also known as Jituwa, from Dharampur, Kanchanrup Municipality-12, Saptari, was arrested.

Police had feared that the child may have been taken to India but later found her near the Sapta Koshi Bridge, within Nepal’s borders.

Following the kidnapping report, the police initiated an investigation from multiple angles, including reviewing CCTV footage to speed up the search.

“The arrested Sah has a criminal history, with previous records of theft and child abductions in both Nepal and India,” SP Timilsina added.

Initial investigations revealed that Sah had been residing in India. He has been remanded for further investigation after his detention was extended by the Sunsari District Court.

The police are continuing their inquiries from all perspectives.