Police in Nepal arrested three armed Maoist activists during an operation to rescue a kidnapped politician, home ministry sources said Sunday.
The Maoists had abducted Man Bahadur Langhali, a ruling Nepali Congress party activist, from Navarni village in the Panchthar district, 390 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu in September.
Police discovered where he was being held and freed him on Saturday.
The abduction took place despite a truce called between the Maoists and the government in July, which has led to two rounds of peace talks between the two sides. These have stalled over the demand by the rebels for a republic.
The rebels, who have been fighting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy since 1996, had pledged to release all prisoners as a condition for a third round of negotiations.
But the government says more than 28 policemen are still being held by the Maoists.
Meanwhile the government gave an ultimatum to the Maoists to enter into a third round of talks as soon as possible.
However Maoist leaders are having problems controlling younger rebels, who will not compromise over the demand for a republic, Maoist sources said.
"The Maoist leadership is facing difficulties in coming round to the bilateral negotiations," a source said.
"The young Maoist cadres are learnt to have even defied their party chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal over matters of party policy concerning the bilateral talks," it added.
"The fresh abduction in Panchthar is part of their acts of defiance towards their leadership as the Maoist youngsters are not willing to stop their people's war," the source said -- KATHMANDU (AFP)
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