Nepal Moaists kidnap 3 Indians of Darjeeling dist

Siliguri, Mar 30: Suspected Nepal Maoist guerrilas kidnapped three Indians, who went inside the himalayan kingdom with a herd for grazing after crossing Mechi river yesterday, official sources here said today.

Sasastra Seema Bal(SSB), responsible for guarding the porous border, sources said the three Indian nationals, whose details were not available immediately, had taken cattle heads for grazing in a jungle inside Nepal after crossing common Mechi river, about 35 km north of this town in Darjeeling district.

But when they did not return late last night, a local search and available sources confirmed that the suspected Maoist rebels have abducted them and taken to a deep jungle in Baundani in Jhapa district of Eastern Nepal, bordering Darjeeling.

SSB sources said local police were informed about this and a communcation was sent to Royal Nepal Police for further information.

Sources said the people in the border areas are mostly Nepali and they cross over the border freely. But abduction of such Indian citizens by the Nepal rebels, who are fighting against monarchy, was first of its kind.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) rebels last night set free two Indians after 17 days keeping them in captive. The two Indians, who were working as tea estate managers in Nepal- identified as Vinod Kumar Rajpuru of Tokla tea estate and Kamal Singh of Mittal tea estate, were released unharmed, sources across the border said today. Mr Rajpuru, a resident of Bikaner. They were kidpanned on March 12 from their resoective garden in Jhapa district of Eastern Nepal, bordering India.

Recently stepped up offensive of the insurgent group in the neighbouring Nepal forced Indian Police to wind up two posts at remote Sukhia Pokari area of Darjeeling district. The police posts, occupied by sub-insepctor and constables, were withdrawn recently for precautionary measure for remote location, sources here said.

UNI

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