Himalayan News Service

Janakpur, July 18:

The Maoists today released 20 security personnel abducted a month ago from Diktel and Bhojpur at Dakaha Bazaar of Sindhuli. The Maoists organised a programme yesterday evening in the presence of the ICRC, local media personnel and human right activists and announced that the security personnel would be released the following morning. ICRC representative Tom Weichent said 18 of the 20 security personnel have been handed over to Dhanusha CDO Prahlad Pokharel. The Maoists had abducted 12 security personnel from Panchdhare, Bhojpur and eight from Duiktel in mid-June. Among the freed, 12 are policemen, while eight are RNA men. Maoist central member Sandhya and Brigade Commander Pawel said the security personnel were kept under the sixth brigade, Solu Salleri. Weichent said one of the freed security personnel is undergoing treatment, while another refused to attend the function. Meanwhile, a group of suspected Maoists torched a passenger bus in Kiteni, along the Mechi-Koshi Highway, last night, eyewitnesses said. Owing to a Maoist-called indefinite transport strike, vehicular movement has come to a halt on the Mechi highway.