Sunday, January 9 2005 19:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Faced with strong public pressure, the Maoists today (Jan 9, 2005) released all 300 passengers they had abducted from six passenger buses for defying a call for road blockade.

The rebels freed the passengers six hours after abducting them, following calls by human rights activists and media persons who exerted strong pressure on them, 'Radio Nepal' said.

Earlier in the morning, a group of armed Maoists abducted 300 passengers from six buses at Lamahi section of the East-West Highway in Rautahat district in southern Nepal.