The rebels abducted 200 students from a school in Ramechhap district and another 150 from two different schools in Kavre district, said The Rising Nepal.

Fifty of them managed to escape from custody, while the others were taken to remote areas where attempts were made to indoctrinate them with the Maoist philosophy, the daily said.

Nepal govt willing to talk with rebels

In other incidents, Maoists looted and set ablaze the village house of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's Assistant Personal Secretary Tarak Bahadur Budha Aier in Dadeldhura district in far-west Nepal last night, said Radio Nepal.

The rebels asked the woman caretaker to leave the premises before looting the house and torching it.

A powerful bomb exploded Wednesday morning at the house of Lila Mani Pokhrel, vice chairman of the People's Front Nepal party, in Koteswar of Kathmandu city, the Kantipur FM said.  No one was hurt.

Maoists release 14 Indian Gorkhas

The Maoists -- who are fighting the monarchy -- also held five reporters captive for over 15 hours in Tapelgunj district Tuesday, reported The Kathmandu Post. They were finally released after being warned to seek permission from the Maoists before entering 'their territory', the daily said.

More reports from Nepal