The Maoists have looted paddy stored in a monastery in a northern village of Sindhupalchowk, a newspaper report said on Sunday.

Local Buddhist monks claimed that the rebels took away nearly 80 quintals of paddy from the monastery located at Thangpaldhap Poudel VDC-1.

The grains were meant for the monks and students residing there. Local farmers grow paddy on the land in possession of the monastery. The Buddhist monastery gets 200 quintals of paddy.

“The paddy could sufficiently feed monks and students for a year,” Kantipur daily quoted a monk as saying, “Now, how are we going to manage food for whole the year? Had they asked us for some, we would provide it.”

Issuing a press statement the monastery condemned the incident terming it ‘inhuman and anti-religious act’,

More than 100 students attend Buddhism classes at the monastery with the number going up in the summer season compared to winter.

“We sincerely appeal for investigation into the act committed against a religious organization and also call upon all the monks and students at the monastery to practice patience and peace in this difficult situation,” the statement added.