Police have arrested a ward chairman of Nijgadh Municipality-2 on the charge of rape.

Ward chairman Rajan Shrestha alias Raju, who was on the run for three months after allegedly raping a girl, surrendered before police on Sunday night.

Shrestha has been accused of raping a girl from his neighbourhood on October 5. The girl lodged had a complaint at Nijgadh Area Police Office six days later.

Police said they had intensified a search for the ward chairman after Bara District Court issued an arrest warrant.

Police Inspector Sanjeev Oli of Nijgadh Area Police Office said the accused came in contact with the police saying he felt unsafe outside.

Oli said the accused was taken into custody and an investigation was started under a rape charge. Shrestha was absconding since the incident.