Maoists Monday abducted at least 150 students from a village in Achham to involve them in the rebels’ mass meeting, a published report said Tuesday.

The students were from Bannatoli VDC, located at about three hours walking distance from Mangalsen, the district headquarters, the Kathmandu Post said.

The villagers who arrived in the district headquarters for personal businesses said that the rebels were forcing secondary-level school students to attend their mass meetings since last week, the daily said.

The daily, quoting locals, said the rebels had earlier staged political meetings in the Bhatakot, Budhakot, Sodasa, Mel Lek, Babla and Devisthan VDCs over the weekend.

The students will be released after the mass meetings come to an end, a villager said, quoting the rebels, according to the daily. nepalnews.com mr Jan 27 04