Nepali student in Pangasinan says husband stole their child

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — A Nepali student on Monday asked immigration authorities here to stop her husband from leaving the country, saying he kidnapped their 10-month old-baby.

Sunita Jha, 24, a medical student of the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation in San Carlos City, said her estranged husband, Shivkumar Swarnakar, forced his way into her apartment on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and left with the baby and her two mobile telephones.

Police said Swarnakar, who was also a student at San Carlos City, hailed a tricycle and asked that he and the baby be taken to Calasiao town, where he could take a Metro Manila-bound bus.

Jha said that she and her husband separated in September 2013. She said her husband then left for the United States.

“I did not know that [Swarnakar] was arriving [last weekend]. And when he came, [Swarnakar] told me he would just take a look at our daughter and then he would leave,” Jha told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

But once Swarnakar held the baby, Jha said he locked her inside her room and hurriedly left the apartment.

“He made sure I won’t be able to call anyone. He even left all his luggage in my room,” Jha said.

Jha has filed a formal complaint of kidnapping against her husband before the San Carlos city police. The Bureau of Immigration is awaiting a copy of the formal charges to enable the agency to issue a hold departure order against Swarnakar.

“I hope the authorities will stop him from leaving the Philippines,” Jha said. “And I want my baby back,” she said.