Pokhara, November 18:

Fifty-six teachers and students, whom the Maoists Maoists had abducted from Thumakodanda, Yamjakot and Rupakot VDCs on Tuesday, were freed on Thursday.

The Maoists freed the abductees after forcing them to take part in a district-level conference of the Maoist-affiliated All- Nepal Free Students’ Union- (ANNISU-R) in Taparang, Kaski. Talking over telephone, an ANNISU-R member said the abductees had reached home on Friday. Stating that it had no information about the release of the abductees, the Pokhara-based western regional divisional headquarters of the Royal Nepalese Army said it has sent a team of unified security forces to Taparang.