Sixteen-year-old Ansara Kathayat who went missing on 20 July appeared at the Area Police Office in Kalikot the next day with head half shaved. The District Police Office of Kalikot said that she had been kidnapped by Maoist rebels.
In their attempt to increase women\'s involvement in their rebel campaign, the underground Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is reported to be kidnapping young girls under sixteen and forcing them to take part in the guerrilla training by force. The girls are beaten with rifle butts and have their heads shaved when they refuse.

In this month alone, more than 20 girls are reported to have been kidnapped from Achham, Dailekh, Surkhet and Kalikot.

After her release, Kathayat told the police that before her abduction seven Maoists beat her up in the Bahunlekh, accusing her of spying. She was told that since she was the daughter of a crook, she should take up arms along with them. "When I refused, they dragged me to a forest three hours away from Bahunlekh and again beat me. That was where they shaved my head. Luckily I managed to run away," she said.

Kidnappings have increased after the results of the School Leaving Certificate examination were announced, with those who got through being targeted by the Maoists.