Lesbians arrested
in Nepal finally released

Two young lesbians who were taken prisoner a month ago by Maoist guerrillas in Nepal have been released, according to the Times of India. The women were captured March 2 after Maoist authorities found that the women were lesbians. The two were on their way to volunteer for an HIV organization when they were captured. Dukhani Choudhary, 16, and Sarita Choudhury, 20, were told during a six-hour interrogation that they would have to undergo blood tests to determine their sexual orientation, the newspaper reported.

After being released Monday, the two went to the Blue Diamond Society, a gay organization in Kathmandu, to report their experience. Sunil Pant, president of the BDS, told the Times of India that the women were subjected to violence and were forced to lead a "straight life" by repudiating homosexuality and joining a Maoist cadre. (The Advocate)