Rights organizations, family members appeal for release of Dhankuta abductees

February 9, 2006
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Various human rights organizations have appealed to the Maoists to immediately and unconditionally release all the persons abducted after the clash with the security personnel in Dhankuta district on Tuesday night.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has appealed to the Maoists to release three persons taken hostage from Dhankuta and nine others abducted from other districts like Siraha, Sunsari, Ilam and Kanchanpur.

A press statement issued by the NHRC said, “The NHRC appeals the Maoists to respect international humanitarian laws as per their commitment and immediately free all abductees.”

According to reports, those adducted by the Maoists in Dhankuta include the joint regional administrator of Dhankuta Prem Prasad Sapkota, section officer Fanindramani Pokhrel, register of Appellate Court Dhankuta Parashuram Acharya, section officer Shovakar Regmi, chief of the Agricultural Development Office Sanjay Yadav, Dron Rai, Tularam Pahari, Krishna Bhattarai, Dasharath Rumjali, Lokendra Kuwar, Govinda Mahat, Khageshwor Bhattarai, and policemen Harinaryan Dhakal, Upendralal Yadav and Bhojraj Danuwar.

Other human rights organizations like HimRights LifeLine, Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), Nepal Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON) also called on the Maoists to release the people in their captivity.

One army man and two Maoists were killed when Maoists launched a massive attack in Dhankuta targeting the district administration office, regional administration office and all security agencies in the district including the second brigade of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the family members of the joint regional administrator, Prem Prasad Sapkota have appealed to the Maoists to immediately release him and urged all to initiate effort for his release.

Holding a press conference in Pokhara on Wednesday, Sapkota’s wife Rita Devi and son Manoj made the appeal in view of his fragile health condition.

According to them, Sapkota suffers from high blood pressure and heart disease.

Rita Devi also urged the human rights organisations, including the United Nations Office of High Commission for Human Rights, the National Human Rights Commission, the Nepal Bar Association and media persons to take the initiative to get her husband released.