Negotiating on hostages unethical: Nitish

Even as the Maoists killed one of the four hostage policemen on Thursday, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar reiterated the government’s willingness for talks, though stressing that negotiating on hostages in ‘unethical’.

“We are ready for talks. Let them (Maoists) come forward, we cannot talk to the air,” Kumar said at a function here.

Without confirming killing of one of the hostage policeman, the chief minister said that he had heard of the report while at the function.

Other government sources have confirmed that abducted sub-inspector Abhay Prasad Yadav has been killed by the Maoists, while the deadline for the government to secure the safe release of the other three policemen has been extended till Friday by the Left wing extremists.

Referring to the hostage incident, Kumar said, “Negotiating on hostages is not ethical. It doesn’t show that a group is being guided by any proper ideology.”

Stressing the government willingness for talks, the chief minister said, “I had talked with Abhay Yadav’s wife when she came (on Wednesday). Anyone can come and we will surely talk to them.”

In an apparent hint at safe passage for rebel leaders if they come for talks, the chief minister said there will be no restrictions on anyone who agrees to a negotiated solution to their grievances.

Maoists had kidnapped four policemen, sub-inspectors Rupesh Kumar and Abhay Prasad Yadav, BMP havildar Ehtesham Khan and BMP ASI Lucas Tete, from Bihar’s Lahisarai district on Sunday after killing seven others in a 14-hour long gun battle.

A spokesperson of the Communist Party of India (Maoists), Avinash, had reportedly set a deadline for the exchange deal at 4 pm on Wednesday, which was extended till 10 am of Thursday and again till Friday, after the Maoists killed one of the hostage.

The Maoists want release of its jailed leaders as well as halt of all offensive operations against the rebels.