Maoists release Bihar cops unharmed, unconditionally

Bringing an end to a nine-day-long hostage drama, the Maoists on Monday freed unharmed three Bihar policemen in their captivity as the administration tightened the noose around the abductors while all appealed to the rebels to release the cops.

The policemen were released by the rebels early on Monday on the border of Kajra-Chanan forests and hills, some 170 km from Patna, Bihar’s Director General of Police Neelmani confirmed.

While Abhay Prasad Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehshan Khan survived the kidnapping, their colleague, Lucas Tete, who was abducted with them, was killed by the Maoists on Thursday.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, heaving relief at the safe release of the three cops, claimed that no deal was struck with the Maoists to secure the release.

?No deal was struck. Only appeals helped,? he said, while thanking the intellectuals for putting pressure on the rebels.

The Maoists had asked the government to release its eight jailed leaders in exchange of safe release of the policemen.

?I thank all parties who attended the all party meeting. I kept eye on the whole situation. I think the appeal after the all party meeting also helped secure the release,? Kumar said.

?I want to thank the police administration that they did not lose their patience and remained restrained despite the abduction and killing of their colleagues,? he said.

He urged the rebels once again to shun violence and join the national mainstream.

?Violence cannot solve the problem. They cannot run the government by violence. I urge them to go to the people and run their organization openly,? he said.

?India united under Mahatma Gandhi and got freedom and we formed a democratic government. In India only democracy can work,? he said.

The chief minister also demanded deployment of central forces during the coming elections in the state so that there is no scope for accusing the state and a free and fair poll is held.

He also asked for aerial surveillance during the elections with helicopters.

Meanwhile, sub-inspector Rupesh Kumar Sinha, one of the three abducted policemen, said he is alive by ‘God’s grace’.

“I am alive because of God’s grace and blessings of my parents and family. I am extremely happy,” Sinha said after being released.

Former chief minister Lalu Prasad said it was humanism which ultimately guided the Maoists to release the abducted cops as he appealed to the rebels to join the national mainstream.

“Manavata [humanism] finally worked. But I do not support what they did earlier. I would appeal them again to shun the path of violence and join the national mainstream,” the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief said.

Meanwhile, the families of the released policemen were glad with the happy tidings.

Reacting to her husband’s release from Maoist dens, Kanti Devi, wife of sub-inspector Abhay Prasad Yadav, said the rebels are her ‘brothers’ and she is thankful to them.

Kanti Devi was assured by Maoist leader Kishenji on Sunday that her husband would get freedom.

“Maoists are my brothers and I thank them as well as to my God. And I’m grateful to my brothers (Maoists) for keeping words,” said Kanti Devi, with tears rolling down her cheeks while interacting with media at her Krishna Nagar village in remote Begusarai.

“I’m desperately waiting for my husband to return. I also thank the Bihar administration who considered my husband as their son. On behalf of the entire village, my children, I thank the Bihar government. I will be indebted to my Maoist brothers till the time I’m alive,” she said.