Xinhua | Guerrillas abduct 2,000 civilians in far-western Nepal: official

KATHMANDU, Sept. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The anti-government guerrillas have abducted at least 2,000 civilians in a far-western district of Nepal, local government office confirmed here Thursday.

"At least 2,000 civilians, most of them teachers and students, have been abducted in a week from remote villages of Achham district, some 700 km west of Kathmandu," District Administrative Office said in a press statement.

The guerrillas started abducting civilians from Saturday, the statement noted, adding, "The guerrillas abducted students and teachers of 30 schools located in different remote villages including Yalsa, Bayalpata, Barala, Binayak, Dhaku, Durmakada and Hirma of the district."

Meanwhile, the guerrillas have also abducted one member each of a family from 40 villages of the district.

"The guerrillas took the civilians towards an undisclosed location," the statement quoted the locals as saying.

This is the biggest incident of abduction by the guerrillas since they declared a unilateral ceasefire on Sept. 3.

The guerrillas often force the civilians, teachers and students to take part in their "ideological" programs and usually free them after a few days unharmed. Sphere: Related Content