600 abducted students freed in western Nepal

The Nepalese security forces on Sunday freed some 600 students safely in western Nepal, after conducting an operation against the anti-government guerrillas, the army said in Kathmandu Monday.

"The Royal Nepalese Army stormed Niskot area of Myagdi districtand rescued the students who were kept by violating their fundamental rights to read and write," the Public Relation Directorate of the army said in a press statement.

However, the whereabouts of over 500 students who have been abducted by the insurgents in Palpa, Tanahun and Baglung districtsin west Nepal on Saturday still remain unknown.

Meanwhile, the guerrillas have also abducted nearly 200 students from various schools from Kotmoula area in mid-western district of Salyan last week.

The whereabouts of the students also remain unknown, the statement revealed.

There have been numerous incidence in the past that the insurgents force the students to take part in their "ideological" programs and usually free them after a few days unharmed.

Source: Xinhua