Kathmandu, January 25

A two-year-old child, who was abducted from the compound of her house in Kharibot, Koteshwor, this morning, was rescued unharmed by police.

According to Metropolitan Police Range, a kidnapper had picked up Sandigya, daughter of Babita Shah, a doctor at Thapathali-based Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, at around 8:30 am. Special police teams were mobilised for search and rescue operation after the family alerted the law enforcement agency about the incident.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Hobindra Bogati said the cops swung into action leading to rescue of the child from Tilganga nearly eight hours after the abduction. Manish Kumar Gupta of Dhanusha, the alleged kidnapper, took Sandigya to Jorpati area and carried her around before he fled from the premises of Tilganga-based Hotel Ganesh, leaving the girl behind.

DSP Bogati said Gupta might have left the toddler after knowing that police were searching for him. The alleged kidnapper had made a telephone call to the girl’s father Santosh Karna in Janakpur and demanded Rs 250,000 in ransom for her safe release. Karna had then alerted the police.

Police informed that they were trying to establish the motive behind the abduction. Gupta had acquaintance with the child's family. However, preliminary investigation has linked it to dispute over monetary dealing.

Sandigya is under medical supervision at the hospital. DSP Bogati said cops were deployed to search for Gupta. On November 30, eight-year-old Prayas Kunwar of Gongabu was abducted and murdered on the banks of the Samakhusi River near Mhepi bridge, in Kathmandu a day after his abduction.

On August 6, 11-year-old Nishan Khadka of Pepsicola was kidnapped and murdered in Bhaktapur. Police had shot dead two men suspected of abducting him the same day.