Locals of Aurahi Municipality in Mahottari District on Wednesday protested against the sluggish pace of police investigation into the abduction and murder of a nine-month-old baby girl.

Nine-month-old Sonalika Chaudhary, daughter of a local shopkeeper Santosh Chaudhari of Aurahi Municipality-1, was found murdered after abduction in a mango grove with bruises all over her body on Monday afternoon.

Locals obstructed vehicular movement along the Bardibas-Jaleshwor road section saying that the police failed to nab the perpetrator even three days after the heinous crime took place. The demonstrators took to the streets and burnt tyres demanding immediate arrest and action against the individual responsible.

Locals at Aurahi Municipality have shutdown businesses in the area along with educational institutions.

Mahottari Police Office SP Ishwor Karki said that the police will soon arrest the perpetrator and begin action. “We are committed to arrest and take action against the person responsible,” said SP Karki, “It will be difficult for us to nab the culprit when the locals resort to banda and strike.”

SP Karki urged the locals not to organise protest saying that they have deployed police in civil dress at Nepal-India border, neighbouring districts among other possible getaway areas to arrest the culprit.

Meanwhile, the baby’s parents have accused 25-year-old Bharat Sah of Bhangaha Sitapur-9 of abducting and murdering the infant.

A CCTV footage taken from Santosh’s shop shows Bharat cradling baby Sonalika in his arms on Sunday evening.

Bharat is at large and police are questioning his family members about his possible whereabouts.