The Maoists abducted more than one hundred Dalit civilians from the eastern part of Taplejung district Thursday afternoon, a newspaper report on Sunday said.

Maoists abducted the locals of Mhale, Saplakhu, Kalikhola and Mamankhe VDCs, the state run The Rising Nepal quoted a resident of Saplakhu VDC-3, who came to the district headquarters as saying.

The armed Maoists took the civilians towards Tharpu area of Panchthar district after gathering them in the premises of Bhanjyang Higher Secondary of Saplakhu VDC saying that there is a district level programme related to the Dalit community, according to the local citizen.

A group of 25-armed Maoists had visited individual homes and asked civilians in all age groups – from youths to the elderly to follow them. The Maoists have said that they would release the captives after a week, the local said.

Officials are yet to confirm the report.