Nepalgunj, June 2 :

Cadres of the Young Communist League released an entrepreneur, Azmat Dangi, from “captivity” after interrogating him today.

The cadres had kidnapped Dangi from Chhappargaudi of Banke district after he allegedly refused to pay them Rs 5.88 lakh.

Ram Bahadur Bhandari, an entrepreneur, said at a press meet today: “YCL cadres came on motorcycles and abducted Dangi from Chappargaudi.” Bhandari said: “Dangi was kidnapped this morning for not giving Rs 5.88 lakh. He was taken to the YCL’s Kohalpur-based office and locked up in a room. He was freed this evening.”

The cadres had soght a ransom of Rs 6 lakh for the release of Dangi, Bhandari said. According to him, Dangi runs the Arun General Stores and Suppliers at Liwang.

He is also a contractor associated with the Banke DDC. Bhandari claimed that donation amounting to Rs 3.04 lakh was paid during the insurgency to Purna Subedi, now an MP. “That was compulsion. The situation has changed. We cannot give in to armtwisting.”

“Like in the past, the Maoists are resorting to abductions of those who refuse to pay them money,” Bhandari alleged.

Banke district in-charge of the CPN (Maoist) Athak said: “I have gathered that Dangi was called to discuss a previously-reached agreement. We will probe into the matter.”