KATHMANDU:  Maoists this week released over 1,000 students, the Regional Education Director for the Far Western Development Region, and the district representative of UN’s World Food Programme, who had been abducted earlier in the month.

The rebels reportedly abducted RED, Damodar Gauli because he defied their blockade. They torched his car in Kailali while en route to Dipayal and took him, his wife and driver prisoner. All three were released on May 30.

On the same day, the Maoists also turned over WFP representative Narendra KC to members of the human rights group, INSEC. He was abducted from Kholagaon village in Rukum on May 24.

They also released over 1,000 students who had been abducted from various schools of the Jajarkot district. According to reports, the abducted students were given a brief introduction on Maoist literature.