Naxals free abducted cops, mystery about why and how - Hindustan Times

Naxals free abducted cops, mystery about why and how - Hindustan Times

Naxals free abducted cops, mystery about why and how

Avijit Biswas/Avinash Kumar, Hindustan Times

Lakhisarai/Patna, September 06, 2010First Published: 08:11 IST(6/9/2010)

Last Updated: 16:58 IST(6/9/2010)

The nine-day hostage crisis in Bihar ended on Monday morning when the Maoists released the three policemen-Abhay Yadav, Ehsan Khan and Rupesh Sinha- to some of their relatives near Lakho village under on the border of Kajra-Chanan forests, nearly 170 kilometres southeast of the state capital.

Bihar DGP Neelmani confirmed the release of the policemen. "All the three abducted policemen have been released by the Maoists after the police sealed their escape routes in the forests and hills," he claimed. Later, during the search operation, the police also arrested seven hardcore Naxals including an area commander, he said.

However, the circumstances under which the policemen were released remain unclear and it's yet not known why they killed Sub-Inspector Lucas Tete.

The Maoists had abducted four policemen on August 29 during an encounter with the police. Seven policemen were killed in the encounter. On September 3, the Maoists had killed one of the captives, the SI of the Bihar Military Police, Lucas Tete, after the state government failed to release their eight jailed colleagues.

The Maoists had issued an ultimatum to the state government that they would kill the four hostages if it failed to release the eight jailed Maoists by 10:00 am on Wednesday, which was later extended to 4:00 pm on Thursday. Tete's bullet-ridden body was found on a hilly road in Kajra forests.

The Maoists handed over the three hostages to their relatives waiting near Lakho village at 6 am this morning. They were brought to Lakhisatrai police station under heavy security from the spot they were released. The relatives had informed the police about their release, police officers at Lakhisarai said.

Abhinandan Yadav, spokesman of the Bihar Policemen Association, who went to bring the three policemen as soon as the news of their release spread around 7 am, said all were in good health.

The freed policemen were in a state of shock when they were brought to the Lakhisarai police station. "I am alive due to God's grace and blessings of my parents and family members," said Rupesh before being taken to Patna.

At her village in Begusarai district, Rajni Devi, wife of SI Abhay Yadav, profusely thanked the Bihar government, Maoists and mediamen for the safe release of her husband.

Lakhisarai SP Ranjit Kumar Mishra said all those involved in the abduction of policemen would be brought to justice. "Those involved in it will be brought to justice. We will launch an operation to flush out the ultras soon", he said.

The eight ultras lodged in different jails of Bihar include Jai Paswan, Vijay Chourasia, Prem Bhuiyan, Pramod Barnawal, Ramvilas Tanti, Ramesh Tirkie, Arjun Koda and Rattu Koda.

After Lucas' killing, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had appealed to the Maoists to release the policemen and offered talks with them. On Saturday, he held an all-party meeting and reiterated his appeal to free the hostages. He said that the Maoists should come to talks and assured to give safe passage for the talks.

After the release this morning, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his satisfaction and thanked all the political parties, intellectuals and all those who made a fervent appeal to the Maoists for the release of policemen.