Newborn found abandoned case: CCTV failure hampers probe

KATHMANDU: Police in eastern Nepal are investigating a disturbing case in which a newborn baby was found abandoned in a forest area in Ward 20 of Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, local authorities said.

According to initial findings, two young men traveling on a motorcycle are suspected of abandoning the infant in the forest of Tarahara area early last Saturday morning. The baby, estimated to be around 7 to 10 days old, was discovered crying near a pile of waste by a local woman who had gone to collect grass, prompting her to alert authorities.

Police from the Nepal Police, including the Itahari Area Police Office and Tarahara Police Post, have been conducting an ongoing investigation. The newborn was immediately rescued, given a medical check-up, and handed over to a local child care institution in Itahari-4. Officials confirmed that the baby’s health condition is currently stable.

Investigators said some CCTV footage has captured images of two individuals on a motorcycle, but the license plate remains unclear, significantly hindering identification efforts. Authorities believe that once the vehicle is identified, the case could progress quickly.

However, police also acknowledged that the investigation has been complicated by the widespread malfunction of CCTV cameras along the highway area. Many surveillance systems were reportedly damaged during past unrest linked to the so-called “Gen Z protests,” and have not yet been repaired.

A local police officer at the Tarahara post stated that a tip-off from a resident—who reportedly saw the men carrying the infant on a motorcycle—has provided a new lead in the case.

Meanwhile, police are expanding their search by collecting footage from private businesses, hotels, and organizations in the surrounding highway corridor.

The incident has sparked renewed public concern over security infrastructure failures, with residents arguing that non-operational surveillance systems are weakening law enforcement capacity and increasing the risk of offenders escaping justice.

Ward Chair of Ward 20, Itahari, Maniram Shrestha, said a plan to install new CCTV cameras along the highway area is already underway. According to him, budget estimates have been submitted, and new surveillance systems are expected to be installed within the next two weeks in key locations.

Authorities continue to investigate the case as efforts intensify to identify and locate the suspects.