Suspected Maoists have abducted 14 Indian soldiers of the Gurkha Regiment in western Nepal, a media report in Kathmandu said on Saturday.
The soldiers, stationed in Jammu and Kashmir, were on their way home on leave when they were abducted from Chuha village in Kailali district, the Kathmandu Post reported.
The rebels also torched three Indian vehicles in a separate incident in Nawalparasi district, it said.
Meanwhile, stepping up its campaign against the government, Maoists exploded a powerful bomb in Bara district, killing four persons, including security personnel, and injuring two others. The incident happened when local residents attempted to defuse two stray bombs planted on a road at Ganjabhawanipur village, official sources said.
According to the sources, the rebels had fixed a bomb along with a banner reading 'danger' on the road a few days ago. It exploded when the civilians tried to defuse it using a long stick killing two persons on the spot.