BBC NEWS | South Asia | 'Nepal Maoists kidnap officials'

Suspected Maoist rebels in Nepal have kidnapped a judge and a former adviser to the late king, police say.

They said Jhapa district court judge Tanka Bahadur Moktan was abducted in a village in the eastern area of Ilam.

An adviser to King Birendra Chet Bahdur Kunwa was apparently seized in another incident in south-western Nepal.

More than 8,000 people are estimated to have died since 1996 - when the Maoists took up arms intent on toppling the country's monarchy.

Mr Moktan was in his house when he was abducted on Friday afternoon, Nepal Samacharpatra newspaper reported.

Suspected Maoist rebels said they had some business with him, the newspaper quoted family sources as saying.

King Birendra's secretary was returning after attending the second World Buddhist Summit in Lumbini when he was kidnapped at Madaulia of Rupandehi district on Friday, reports said. Sphere: Related Content