'The baby is being loved' | Family of Mamta Kafle Bhatt arrive in the United States and is reunited with her daughter

Bandita Sharma-Dahal, Esq., the family's immigration attorney sent WUSA9 the following statement Tuesday afternoon.

We would like to let everyone know that Mamta’s mom and brother has been reunited with Mini Mamta. We request community and media to give them privacy. They will speak up when they feel comfortable. We will not be disclosing their location at this time. They are dealing with unimaginable pain so please be kind to them. 
#JusticeForMamta

"We were in the process of bringing them here and did the expedited visa for them. They came early yesterday morning," said Sharma-Dahal in an interview with WUSA9 Wednesday night. 

"My biggest thing was to bring the parents here especially the grandmother and the uncle, so they are here but we have a long way to go," she said.

She told WUSA9 that they waited to let the community know that the family had arrived, to give the family time to adjust.

"We just wanted to make sure nobody visits them, bothers them and lets them be with the baby," she explained. 

She said she understands the community has been following this case closely, which is why they put out a message Wednesday.

"We just wanted to put out the message to 'please respect their privacy' because sometimes,  even as an act of kindness, you just want to bring something for the baby or bring something for them. But at this moment they are not ready to interact with anybody," said Sharma-Dahal,

Sharma-Dahal told WUSA9 that the family appreciates all the love and support. She says they are understandably going through a really tough time.

"We want to thank the community because they have been so supportive of them. Everybody is so interested in when are they coming and when will the baby be able to meet the grandma and the uncle. So, we owe it to the communities to let the community know that all the good wishes and prayers have worked out. They are here and the baby is being loved," she said.

She told WUSA9 that while the baby, who they are calling "Mini-Mamta" to protect her identity, is now with Mamta's mother and brother, but prior to this, the baby was with one of Mamta's close friends.

"That particular friend of Mamta, I don't want to say her name just for privacy reasons. She's been with Mamta through thick and thin. She's even been with Mamta even before her pregnancy and all those journeys before too," said Sharma-Dahal.

She said they are grateful for the way police and Child Protective Services have handled the situation.

"Child Protective Services has done phenomenal work by making sure the baby is protected. They have done the background check and whoever is taking care of the baby is in a situation to do so. They have a very warm loving beautiful house and family and they have watched the baby before as well and the baby is familiar with them," Sharma-Dahal.

She explained to WUSA9 that their priority is the baby right now.

"Although a parent's love can not be replaced and the baby is still in a very vulnerable phase. She is surrounded by people who love her kindly and genuinely," said Sharma-Dahal.

For now, the little girl will stay with Mamta's family, but that could change in the future because while Mamta's family are citizens of Nepal, the baby is a U.S. citizen.

"That's still a big question. We still need to talk about it. We are at the very early phase right now. We are yet to have that discussion because right now, although Naresh is in custody, he is still the father of the child," said Sharma-Dahal, who is not a child custody attorney.

Naresh Bhatt is due back in court on Thursday. Manassas Park Police arrested and charged him with a single class six felony count for concealing a dead body. Prosecutors have not presented evidence to charge Naresh Bhatt with murder, and he has not confessed to the killing of his wife.

As for the family, Sharma-Dahal says they are overwhelmed by the support and love they've received, including the financial support.

"What we are doing right now is being the voice of Mamta," said Sharma-Dahal. "In a matter of 24 hours, we were able to raise more than $200,000."

She says that money will be used to help Mamta's family, specifically her little girl.

"We have already communicated to start the trust account," said Sharma-Dahal.

She told WUSA9 the family will likely not attend Naresh Bhatt's hearing on Thursday.

"Just because they are not prepared at the moment for any conversation with the crowd and media," she said.

She's asking the community to give the family grace and time to process everything that has unfolded.

"I can't imagine just coming to the country where their daughter said was going to be her home. They hadn't seen her home in person. They had only seen the home through video because she had bought the house last year," said Sharma-Dahal.

What has been especially tough she says, is the fact that her family says they had such a different image of her life in the United States.

"She was a joyful person with all the dances. That's the image that they have seen. Just to imagine that particular house could have been the place where some big incident might have happened to her daughter, it's unimaginable," said Sharma-Dahal.

For now, they're just grateful to be reunited with "Mini-Mamta".

"They're very sad, upset. But, they're happy to be with their granddaughter. Mixed emotions there," said Sharma-Dahal.