Saturday, January 29 2005 14:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's Maoists rebels have abducted more than 400 local businessmen from the country's west, the State media reported today (Jan 29, 2005).

The kidnapping took place even as the rebels released the 1000 students and teachers kidnapped from two schools of Jhapa district in eastern Nepal after forcing them to attend a public meeting organized by the Maoists at a school in Madargachh.

The Rising Nepal daily reported that the armed rebels abducted the businessmen of Doti district and surrounding area in far west and told them they would elect a Doti District Businessmen's Committee.

After the formation of the committee all such businesses would have to be registered with the Maoist authority by tomorrow (Jan 30, 2005), they said.