Maoists released abducted Local Development Officer (LDO) of Pyuthan Dhruba Bahadur Adhikari Thursday although a policeman who was kidnapped with him was murdered by rebels, local officials said.

Meanwhile, insurgents murdered abducted policeman Om Bahadur Shah of Bhudadanda in Kavre during home leave from duty in Dang, police said. Shah was abducted Monday by Maoists from his home.

Maoists Wednesday slit the throat of soldier Ram Prasad Chaudhary at his home Sripur in Kanchanpur and murdered him, local officials said. Rebels the same evening abducted policeman from Johnapur in Kanchanpur.

CPN-UML Pyuthan Thursday issued a statement saying that its activist Ramesh Bahadur Thapa abducted by Maoists Monday has been murdered; his body was found in the district Wednesday.