Kathmandu, Jan 06: Maoist rebels have kidnapped 150 students from schools in northwestern Nepal, local media reported today.
The abductions came Friday in Bajura district, 435 kilometres from Kathmandu, the Nepali Mahanagar daily said.
"The Maoists selected healthy students from the fifth grade and higher from Jana Prakash Higher Secondary, Bhim Middle School and others in Bhulina and Kalika of Bajura district," the daily quoted police as saying.
The daily said there have been no reports that the students have been returned home by the Maoists, and district officials say they have no information on their whereabouts.
The rebels gave no motive for the kidnapping, nor did they hint at where the students were being taken.
The rebels in December kidnapped 45 schoolboys in south western Nepal, but released them two days later.
Home ministry spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Pandey said there had been no information received about any abductions.
Bureau Report
