The anti-government guerrillas abducted at least 200 civilians in far-western Nepal, the Royal Nepal Army confirmed here Sunday.

"They were abducted on Wednesday from two different areas of Bajura district, some 700 km west of Kathmandu," the army said in a press statement.

Some 150 civilians were abducted by the guerrillas from Dhime village of the district, the statement noted, adding, "Around 50 people were abducted from Jagannath area in the district on the same day."

All of them have been taken to undisclosed location, the Army added.

The guerrillas force the civilians, teachers and students to take part in their "ideological" programs and usually free them after a few days unharmed.

Over 12,000 Nepalese people have been killed since the anti-government insurgency took place in the Himalayan kingdom in February 1996.

Source: Xinhua