The Maoists on Saturday released 10 security personnel they had abducted during the attacks in Sunwal of Nawalparasi on February 9.
They were released from Humin of Palpa in the presence of journalists and human rights activists. Among the released 10 security personnel, four had been abducted twice. The four were abducted from the Palpa and Nawalparasi clashes.
Two RNA personnel, Kaman Singh Ayer and Chandra Man Ayre are still in captivity.
The released security personnel are policemen Ganga Bahadur Kairan, Kapil Chaudhari and Prem Sagar Chaudhari and RNA soldiers Mahendra Chaudhari, Lil Bahadur Gurung, Dipak Sapkota, Suman Dahal, Rajendra Singh Mahatara, Lokendra Limbu and Dev Bahadur.
A team of scribes and rights activists handed over the freed men to the local chiefs of security agencies.
At least 20 persons, including 15 security personnel and four Maoist rebels, were killed during fierce clashes at Rambhapur of Nawalparasi district along the Mahendra highway on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a report from Kapilvastu said Maoists abducted three government officials including assistant chief district officer (CDO) of Kapilvastu on Saturday.
The rebels abducted assistant CDO Bhawani Parajuli, administrative officer Bimal Acharya and Krishna Ram Koirala, an employee at the Kapilvastu District Court while returning from India at Taulihawa-Khunuwa road section in the district.
The Maoists took the government officials on three motorcycles, family sources of the abductees said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the rebels abducted 151 people from Kotjahari VDC in Rukum district on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the MoD said the Maoists forcibly herded the locals including a teacher of a school to an undisclosed location.