Kathmandu: A British Embassy staffer working for a charity helping gurkha veterans of the British Army was kidnapped along with seven other persons from an area bordering Maoist-hit districts, official sources said on August 5.

Purna Bahadur Sahi, a Nepali national working as an assistant welfare officer of the gurkha welfare scheme in Rapti zone, was kidnapped on August 1 with seven other persons travelling in a bus near Jaluki bordering Rolpa and Pyuthan districts.

The kidnappers were not identified but they are believed to be Maoists. No details were known about Sahi and the other bus passengers.

The British Embassy expressed deep concern over the incident and demanded immediate release of Sahi. "The British Embassy is deeply concerned by this action against a British charity and its staff and asks that Purna Bahadur Sahi be released immediately," the Embassy said in a statement.

The British government is one of the key donors and support Nepal government in its fight against Maoist rebels.

Meanwhile, police arrested two editors of Nepali weeklies for publishing anti- government news reports.

Kishor Shrestha, editor of 'Jana Astha' weekly and Bishnu Ghimire, editor of 'Jana Prahar' weekly were arrested by the police for publishing malicious and defamatory news reports, police sources said.

PTI