Police in Baglung have arrested two women on suspicion of forcing a 16-year-old girl into prostitution. The suspects were detained in Burtibang Bazaar in ward 1 of Dhorpatan Municipality.

They are identified as Pritima BK, 40, from Tamankhola Rural Municipality, and Khim Kumari Bomjam, 37, from Kailash Rural Municipality.

They were operating an eatery in the area. Deputy Superintendent of Police Bijaya Yadav said the girl had been confined in a hotel for four years and exploited.

The police acted on a tip-off and have registered a formal complaint from the victim. Yadav said that a court has extended the custody of the accused under the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act. Authorities said surveillance had been stepped up in locations vulnerable to similar crimes.