Kathmandu, August 26:

The National Human Rights Commission has urged unidentified groups claiming to be Maoists to free persons abducted by them, and has urged another group claiming to be security men to allow a displaced family to return home. In a statement, the body has urged one group to free Yubaraj Bhattarai, teacher at Bhagirath Secondary School in Sanischarya, and Parshu Ram Karki, president of the school’s management committee.

It has urged another unidentified group to release Bishwanath Mandal, an employee of the Rural Bank Rangeli, a resident of Agmachhi VDC, Morang. Bhattarai and Karki was abducted on the afternoon of August 24 from the school premises, while Mandal was abducted the same morning from Takuwa, Ramanpur. The NHRC has also urged four individuals claiming to be security men to allow a displaced family to return home. The group has reportedly locked Narprasad Lamichhane’s family out of their house in Jyamirgadi VDC, Jhapa from August 21, accusing them of spying for the Maoists.