Kathmandu, February 15:

The regional office of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at Biratnagar today called on the Maoists to spare the lives of two persons they abducted from two Terai districts recently.

A press statement issued by the NHRC regional office asked for the release of Dipa Tamang, of Morang, who was abducted on December 23, 2005, and Ashok Subba, of Jhapa, who was kidnapped by the Maoists on February 13. Subba was recently nominated as a DDC member.

The NHRC urged the Maoists to honour international humanitarian laws and asked for the unconditional release of Tamang and Subba.