Locals of Susta in West Nawalparasi have handed over an Indian man to police for allegedly trying to traffic a seven-year-old girl to India.

According to police, one Dhurup Bharati of Domaha, Maharajgunj in Uttar Pradesh state of India was detained for trying to traffic Nabya Kalwar, daughter of Munna Kalwar of Belhani, of Susta Rural Municipality-5 in the district. The accused has been kept at the Area Police Office, Beltari.

The arrested Indian man was a regular customer at Kalwar’s shop where he would come to drink alcohol. Bharati had befriended the girl during his frequent visits and when he got an opportunity he offered her a chocolate and took her in his bicycle in the pretext of visiting her maternal-uncle’s house, claimed Kalwar’s parents.

The girl’s family and locals started searching for the girl after she did not return home till late evening. The locals caught Bharati red-handed while he was taking the girl to India.

Inspector Keshav Singh Thapa of the Area Police Office, Beltari, said that they are looking into the case.