Keonjhar, July 16: A minor girl, who was allegedly kidnapped from Jajpur Road, was rescued from Belabahali-Dihasahi area in Keonjhar district today. Her abductor was also arrested.

The abductors, identified as Butu Dehury, 48, kidnapped the girl when she was alone at home. After being rescued, she was handed over to her parents, police said.

“I saw a middle-aged man applying alata (colour) on the feet of a minor girl after tonsuring her head on my verandah last evening. They did not belong to our area. Suspecting foul play, we went to the man and caught him. We then locked him in a room and rescued the minor girl from his clutches. Later, we informed the local police station about the incident,” said Rabindra Behera of Dihasahi village.

The police said: “We reached the spot last night and found the abductor was locked inside a room by the villagers. We also saw the girl whose head had been shaved and alata was also applied on her feet. I asked the man about the minor girl. He told the police that he picked up the girl from Jajpur Road town when her parents were away from home yesterday noon. He did not reveal his motive behind the kidnapping,” said Ramesh Chandra Parida, inspector in-charge of Ghasipura police station.