A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) left for Tansen of Palpa to investigate the Maoist attack there.

The team comprises NHRC member Sudip Pathak, Chief of the Protection Department Yagnya Prasad Adhikari and officer Dhani Ram Shapkota.

A team led by NHRC member Dr Ram Dayal Rakesh that left for Tansen on Thursday could not reach there due to the obstructions laid at Bayaghari and Galyang of Syangja by the Maoists.

A press statement issued by the NHRC on Friday said it had received preliminary information that Maoists abducted 37 people including Chief District Officer Laxman Bahadur Thapa and Inspector of National Investigation Department Yam Prashad Parajuli along with some army men and policemen.

The NHRC has appealed to the Maoists to behave with the detainees as per Article 3 of the Geneva Convention and immediately release them.

At least 11 security personnel and eight rebels were killed in the gun battle that lasted for nearly seven hours on Tuesday.