Two teenagers have been arrested on charge of abducting an eight-year-old girl child from Lalitpur on Tuesday.

Metropolitan Police Range, Lalitpur, arrested Bhimsen Bhandari and Binita Baskota, both 19 years old of Simthali-5 in Kavre, from a Chabahil-based guest house in Kathmandu. Police said 8-year-old Samu Pandey (name changed) of Balkumari was held hostage at Purveli Guest House.

Samu had gone missing since Monday from Chysal, Lalitpur.

According to Police, Baskota had taken Samu to play around with her and later took her to Koteshwor where Bhandari, a relative of Baskota, was waiting. Baskota handed over the child to Bhandari and returned back, while the latter took the child around the town. He later took the child to a guest house near Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajung where he spent the night. The next day, the child was taken to the Chabahil-based guest house.

Senior Superintendent of Police Pitamber Adhikari, chief of Lalitpur police Range said husband of Baskota was recently arrested on theft charge and was presented before the court on March 11. 

At the court, Baskota's husband had asked her to manage around Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000 to hire a lawyer. The same day, Baskota met Bhandari and devised a plan for abduction in order to manage the amount for releasing her husband. 

"They had been looking for around three children but had failed to abduct them," said SSP Adhikari said. "Finally, they planned to abduct Samu and demand Rs 500,000 in ransom. They had an understanding to split the surplus amount after releasing Baskota's husband."

SSP Adhikari said there is no evidence of rape or molestation to the child and police have filed abduction charges against the duo.