Abducted chairman of Thawang Rural Municipality Bir Bahadur Ghartimagar was freed by his captors after three days on Saturday evening.

Ghartimagar, who was kidnapped by the activists of the Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), was released at the presence of journalists at Dhawang Bhanbhane in Rolpa Municipality. The journalists later submitted Ghartimagar to police. Chief District Officer Dijan Bhattarai and Rolpa Municipality Mayor Purna KC were also present on the occasion.  Ghartimagar, who was elected the chairman of Thawang Rural Municipality from the CPN (Maoist Centre), was preparing to hold the first  council meeting on Saturday, but he was abducted by the CPN cadres on Thursday night.

Despite his abduction, the council meeting went ahead as planned. CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal attended the meeting as a chief guest.

Following his release, Ghartimagar told reporters that he was treated well by his kidnappers, who wanted him to support their party’s “people’s government”. He said he had not decided whether to press charges against the persons who abducted him.