Itahari, October 21:

Police today arrested a restaurant owner at Khanar, Sunsari, on the charge of forcing a girl into prostitution.

The Area Police Office (APO), Itahari, arrested Kabita Dahal (Neupane), who was running a restaurant at Khanar-3 in her own residence. “Kabita had brought a 15-year-old girl from Madhumalla, Morang, for domestic work seven months ago. Three months after bringing the girl, Kabita forced her to satisfy customers’ sexual desires,” said Sanjiv Katuwal, ASI at the Itahari APO.

According to the girl, when she denied getting into sexual relations with customers of the restaurant, Kabita tortured her and forced her into the act.

“As Kabita continued torturing her, the girl escaped from the restaurant and went to the Dharan APO for help yesterday. Following her complaint, Kabita was arrested,” Katuwal said. Investigation is underway, the Itahari APO said. Kabita told the police that she neither tortured the girl nor forced her into sexual relations with anyone.