Kathmandu, February 8:

Rights organisations have appealed to the Maoists to release the persons taken as hostages during their clash with the security personnel in Dhankuta district yesterday night. The data on the hostages vary among rights bodies though.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has appealed to the Maoists to release three persons taken hostage from Dhankuta and nine others abducted from other districts like Siraha, Sunsari, Ilam and Kanchanpur.

According to the NHRC, Sanula Khan was abducted from Siraha; Bhola Subedi from Sunsari; Sombikram Bohora, RamBahadur Bohora, Puspalal Kattel, Dambar Kumar Kattel, Tanka Prasad, Tara Prasad Kattel, Ananda Prasad Kattel and Kamala Kattel from Ilam; and Jitendra Kumar Shrestha from Kanchanpur. “The NHRC appeals the Maoists to respect International Humanitarian Laws as per their commitment and immediately free all abductees,” said a statement issued by the NHRC today.

According to information provided by the HimRights LifeLine, those adducted by the Maoists in Dhankuta include the deputy regional administrator of Dhankuta Prem Prasad Sapkota; section officer Fanindramani Pokhrel; registar Parashuram Acharya; section officer Shovakar Regmi; chief of the Agricultural Development Office Sanjay Yadav; Dron Rai, Tularam Pahari, Krishna Bhattaria, Dasharath Rumjali, Lokendra Kuwar, Govinda Mahat, Khageshwor Bhattarai; and policemen Harinaryan Dhakal, Upendralal Yadav and Bhojraj Danuwar.

“We ask the Maoists to release the people in their captivity in accordance with International Humanitarian Laws as soon as possible,” HimRights LifeLine said today.

The Nepal Human Rights Organisation has also called on the Maoists to release the people in their captivity.