A seven-year-old girl abducted by her neighbour over family dispute has been rescued from India by Saptari District Police.

A team of Saptari police rescued Santoshi Mandal, 7, daughter of Laxman Mandal of Narghe VDC-6, 20 hours after her abduction from India.  A man living in her neighbourhood picked her on Wednesday and took her to India on a bicycle.

Police has not revealed the kidnapper’s identity and he has been absconding. A police team under District Police Chief of Saptari, SP Bhim Prasad Dhakal, swung into action immediately after learning about the incident.

The team deployed in civvies rescued the minor from the main thoroughfare of Kariyaut Panchayat region of Madhaban district, Bihart state of India. The place is 12 km South from Nepal-India border. The abducted child was handed over to her parents at a press meet organised at the District Police Office on Thursday.

SP Dhakal said the man behind the abduction has been identified and police have intensified search to nab him.

The abducted child’s father Laxman has been running a small shop at Rupani Mod in Rajbiraj. SP Dhakal said the girl was abducted over minor family dispute and  ransom and the details would be known after the arrest of the guilty.

Earlier on July 21, Saptari District Police had rescued eight-year-old Sikendra Das, resident of Rautahat VDC-2, from Indian territory.