Maoists shot dead Prakash Adhikari, a policeman after abducting him from a village in Pyuthan Saturday. His body was discovered at a village in the district and immediately cremated Sunday, local officials said.

The whereabouts of Local Development Officer Dhruba Kumar Karki and hotelier Ram Bahadur Thapa (NC) are still not known. They were abducted with Inspector Adhikari. A journalist who was also abducted was freed Saturday.

Meanwhile, rebels abducted six CPN-UML activists from Ranibas in Bhojpur Saturday, including two-time member of parliament Dhan Harka Rai, police said. They were abducted during a party regional meeting.

The rebels destroyed mikes, party flags and placards from the meeting site.