The Maoist rebels on Saturday have freed 21 security personnel including 19 policemen, an intelligence officer and one Royal Nepalese Army soldier Saturday morning.

According to latest reports, those freed include Yam Prasad Parajuli, inspector of National Investigation Department (NID).

In a statement issued Saturday, the CPN (Maoist) said 21 of the detainees were released in the presence of local journalists and human rights activists at Tau market of Palpa. “Rest of the detainees will also be freed soon,” the statement said.

Security personnel who were freed reached the devastated district headquarter, Tansen, this morning.

Eight other people including Chief District Officer, Laxman Thapa, are still under Maoist custody.

The rebels had taken them into custody after fierce overnight battle at Tansen last Tuesday. At least eleven security personnel and eight rebels were killed during the overnight battle.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), however, said the number of detainees stood at 37.

Rights groups and family members of those abducted had appealed the rebels to free all the people under their custody and treat them as per Geneva conventions.

Meanwhile, the women’s wing of the CPN (Maoist), All Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary) has said security personnel have arrested their central committee member, Parbati Thapa, from Bafal, Kathmandu on January 27. The Association has urged rights groups to help protect life of Thapa and pressurise the government to make her whereabouts public.