Nepalgunj, September 22:

Maoists have abducted as many as 2,200 civilians from remote VDCs of Achham over the last seven days. According to information given by locals on telephone from Mangalsen, the abductees are mostly school students and teachers. Locals added that the Maoists started abducting civilians on Saturday. Locals said that the Maoists abducted students and teachers of 30 schools situated in different VDCs of Achham, including Yalsa, Bayalpata, Barala, Binayak, Dhaku, Durmakada and Hirma. The families of those abducted said the Maoists took the abducted teachers and students of Grade VII to X to make them undergo training.

Locals also said the Maoists abducted one person from each family in 40 different VDCs of Achham within the same period. A local of Kuika VDC said, “The Maoists forcibly took one person from each househould saying they must participate in campaigns.” He added that the Maoists had threatened them with dire consequences if they failed to comply.

Hundreds of locals were abducted from Siudi, Lungra, Payal, Yalsa and other remote VDCs of the district. The District Administration Office has confirmed the abduction. Surya Prasad Shrestha, chief district officer of Achham, said he had heard about the abduction of a large number of villagers by the Maoists. The victims’ families have appealed to the human rights activists and journalists at Mangalsen to take steps for the safe release of the abductees.