Expressing concern over the abduction of three senior managers of Surya Nepal, an Indo-Nepal joint venture, by the Maoists, India Tuesday asked the rebels to "immediately and unconditionally" release all the kidnapped persons.

In a statement, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu asked the the rebels to "immediately and unconditionally" release all the staff of the Indian joint venture, who were abducted four days ago.

Surya Nepal is a tobacco manufacturing company, in which Indian Tobacco Company has sizable stake and it employees around 300 Nepalese labourers.

The Industrial Security Group, a forum comprising representatives of various diplomatic missions in Kathmandu including Indian Embassy, British Embassy and the US Embassy, had issued a separate statement Monday condemning the abduction of the Surya Nepal staff and asked the Maoists to release them immediately.

Various Nepalese organisations including the human rights groups in Kathmandu have asked the rebels to unconditionally release the abducted persons.