Nitish Kumar thanks intellectuals for cops? release

Patna, Sept 6 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday stuck to his stand on the Maoist problem as he first thanked the country?s intellectuals for putting pressure on the rebels for helping secure the release of the abducted cops.

He also claimed that no deal with struck with the Maoists to secure the release of the cops.

“No deal with struck. Only appeals helped,” he said.

Addressing a press conference after the release of the cops by the Maoists after nine days of a hostage crisis, Nitish Kumar said the appeal after an all party meeting also influenced the decision of the Maoists.

?I want to thank those intellectuals all over the country who put pressure on the Maoists to release them and it impacted the decision of the rebels,? he said.

?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.

?We are happy that three were freed unharmed but we regret that one brave policeman was killed,? he said.

?Those who are freed are all being sent to their families,? he informed.

?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.

He said the crisis also showed how the people of Bihar were united on the issue.

Nitish Kumar 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.

He said anytime election dates would be announced and hence no security loopholes should be left.

After nine days of captivity, three Bihar policemen abducted by the Maoists were released in Lakhisarai district on Monday, police here confirmed.

On Sunday, there were reports that the rebels had freed the policemen and then called local media.

Abhay Prasad Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehshan Khan, who were taken hostage on Aug 29, were freed 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.

The abductors, however, executed Bihar Military Police sub-inspector Lucas Tete on Thursday.