Rautahat, May 4 :

Activists of the Jwala Singh-led Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) last night abducted two members of the Anjuman Community Forest of Kanakpur VDC in Rautahat district.

Around 25 JTMM activists who came in vehicles kidnapped Shankar Shah and Sheikh Sagir from Baluwa village of Kanakpur VDC.

Before abducting the two, the JTMM men cordoned off and raided houses in Baluwa village. The JTMM activists also looted four pistols and goods, locals said.

When the villagers tried to retaliate, the JTMM activists beat up five persons including chairman of the Anjuman community forest Thaga Chaudhari and a member Dipendra Chaudhari. “Both of us sustained injuries and are being treated at a local sub-health post,” chairman Chaudhari said.

The abductees’ families have called for their immediate and unconditional release.

Claiming responsibility for the abduction, JTMM-Jwala district chairman Ajay Yadav said, “We took the weapons. However, JTMM was not involved in any robbery.”