Update (22:09 NST, October 4, 2026)
New details have emerged regarding the abduction and rescue of the 10-year-old girl in Tilottama, Rupandehi district. Preliminary police investigation suggests that the girl was abducted with the intention of sexual assault, a motive previously unclear. Police also revealed that the alleged abductor, Yuvraj Tharu, 27, has a criminal history, including past involvement in theft and indecent behavior.
The girl, who was abducted from her home in Tilottama Municipality-10, Darkhaswa, was sleeping in the same room as her 5-year-old brother and grandparents, a clarification from earlier reports that stated her grandparents were sleeping outside. Her grandfather discovered her missing around 3 AM last Wednesday, an hour later than previously reported, when he woke to cover the children with a blanket. The Mangalwa Area Police Office was immediately informed, with Inspector Gyanendra Chand leading the initial response.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nishant Srivastava of the Butwal Area Police Office, whose name was previously misidentified as Shrestha, confirmed that around 150 police personnel were involved in the extensive search operation. DIG Bhupendra Khatri of the Lumbini Province Police Office also deployed a special team. The girl, who had returned from India with her grandparents on Ashoj 14 (BS), was found unable to speak when rescued around 3 PM on Ashoj 16 (BS). After her rescue, she was kept in a safe house at the Butwal Area Police Office overnight before being reunited with her family the following day. Police recovered a knife and an iron rod from Tharu upon his arrest. Villagers informed police that Tharu frequently lived and slept in the jungle, and investigations suggest he kept the girl alone in the jungle for 37 hours.
Update (15:02 NST, October 4, 2026)
New details have emerged regarding the abduction and rescue of the 10-year-old girl in Tilottama, Rupandehi district. The girl was found safely on Friday, Ashoj 16 (BS), in the Chakrahawa forest area of Tilottama-10, police said, clarifying the rescue location from an earlier report that cited the Kanchhi Bazaar forest area.
Yuvraj Tharu, the 27-year-old alleged abductor, was arrested on Sunday night, Ashoj 18 (BS), from a paddy field in Darkhaswa, a more specific location than the previously reported Kanchhi Bazaar forest area. Police shot Tharu below the knee after he attempted to attack arresting officers, providing a more precise detail than “at his leg,” police added.
Following her rescue, a health check-up of the girl revealed no immediate serious health problems, police reported. The girl also indicated that she did not know the person who took her to the jungle and hinted at abuse, police said. The Butwal Area Police Office is conducting further investigation into the incident.
Update (12:03 NST, October 4, 2026)
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nishant Shrestha of the Butwal Area Police Office confirmed the details of the operation, clarifying his name after an earlier report identified him as Nishant Srivastava. The girl’s uncle was identified as Jitendra Mallah.
New details also emerged regarding the abduction. Police stated that the girl’s grandmother discovered her missing around 2 AM last Wednesday when she went to cover her with a blanket. The 10-year-old was sleeping in an inner room with her brother at the time of the abduction, while her grandparents were sleeping outside the house.
Nepal Police shot and arrested a 27-year-old man in Tilottama, Rupandehi district, Lumbini Province, after he abducted a 10-year-old girl. The girl was safely rescued after a 38-hour search operation, police said.
Yuvraj Tharu, also known as Bishal, from Tilottama Municipality-17, a local government body in Rupandehi district, was apprehended on Sunday night, Ashoj 18 (BS), around 1 AM in the Kanchhi Bazaar forest area of Tilottama. Police resorted to firing a single round at Tharu’s leg after he attempted to attack the arresting officers, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nishant Srivastava of the Butwal Area Police Office. Tharu is currently receiving treatment at Lumbini Provincial Hospital for his injury.
The abducted girl was rescued safely on Friday evening around 7 PM from the same forest area, approximately 38 hours after her disappearance.
The incident began last Wednesday night around 2 AM when Tharu abducted the 10-year-old girl from her home in Tilottama Municipality-17, Darkhaswa, while she was sleeping. Her family discovered her missing around 2 AM and immediately informed the Nepal Police.
Nepal Police launched an extensive search operation early Thursday morning, deploying a special team to scour the girl’s village and surrounding forest areas. During the search, police found crucial evidence, including a mobile phone, near the rescue site, which helped identify Tharu as the abductor. Despite the girl’s rescue on Friday evening, Tharu had managed to evade capture and was believed to be hiding in the forest. Police continued their search, eventually locating him on Sunday night.
The rescued girl has been reunited with her family and is currently under police protection. Authorities from the Butwal Area Police Office stated that they are preparing to file charges against Tharu for abduction and hostage-taking.
The motive behind the abduction remains unclear, and police have not yet released details regarding Tharu’s potential criminal background. Further investigation is underway to uncover the full circumstances of the incident.
