General secretary of the Rastriya Jana Morcha, Nava Raj Subedi, has accused the Maoists of kidnapping, torturing and looting members of the RJM. He said this at a press conference held recently in the capital. He further stated that recently the Maoists had raped the wife of a Pyuthan resident, Man Bahadur Thapa. The Maoists had asked Thapa for Rs 25,000, and when Thapa failed to cough up the amount the Maoists took away Thapa's 51-year-old wife and raped her. Similarly, Maoists kidnapped Goma Bhandari of Dang and threatened her. In another incident, Durga Rana of Phuthan too was kidnapped and it was only after some time that she was released. The RJM general secretary has asked Maoists to stop this behaviour, and warned that the RJM may have to resort to strong action to counter the Maoists. He stated that the RJM was fully prepared to act against the Maoists if they did not behave themselves.