Maoists free RNA men; RNA launches aerial raid on Maoist meet

April 30, 2006
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Nine Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) soldiers, who were abducted from Leguwa in Dhankuta district on Thursday, were released from Jeetpur Bazaar at the presence of human rights defenders, Saturday.
Although the RNA’s number-2 brigade at Hile claimed the Maoists had abducted 27 of their men, the rebels maintained that they took away only nine soldiers.

Maoists were facing criticism for abducting them notwithstanding their call of unilateral ceasefire for three months.

Meanwhile, the rebels are yet to release CDO of Sarlahi, Bodhraj Adhikari, who was abducted on April 6.

In another incident, RNA launched an aerial attack on a peaceful mass meet called by the CPN (Maoist) at Sunwal area in Nawalparasi district, Saturday afternoon.

According to reports, an RNA chopper rained bullets on the mass meet organized in the jungle adjoining a settlement.

According to eyewitnesses, some people took refuge under a bridge while others took cover beside uncovered hume pipes as indiscriminate firing continued from the helicopter. A Maoist cadre sustained shrapnel injury on his nose.

The Maoists have been organizing mass meets openly at various places since they announced unilateral truce on Wednesday. They also organized a mass meet in downtown Kathmandu on Friday. nepalnews.com pb Apr 30 06