November 02, 2001

KATHMANDU: Maoists Friday morning released four senior activists of the UML at Tatopani village two days after they were kidnapped in Jumla district, state-owned Radio Nepal said quoting its local correspondent.
The main opposition in parliament condemned the Wednesday night abductions of former legislator Dilli Bahadur Mahat, district development chairman Tirtha Bahadur Buda and two others from Garjyang village during a wedding reception. Other details were not available.

Rebels have scaled up arson, terror attacks and abductions even as government and insurgents prepare for a third round of parleys to end the so-called people’s war that has claimed more than 1,800 lives in nearly six years.
Last Saturday Maoists injured several persons in a shoot-out with vigilante groups opposing rebel activities.

The UML met in emergency session in the capital Friday to discuss the abductions.
Meanwhile, additional security were deployed around Betani village in neighbouring Nuwakot district where rebels destroyed a building of the village development chairman Harischandra Tamang this week in revenge for the lynching of a rebel, officials said.

As rebels released four abducted persons in Jumla, Maoists abducted five persons from Nirmal village in neighbouring Rolpa district this week, Radio Nepal said. The date for the third round of talks has not been finalized as yet.