Bihar hostage crisis over, Maoists free cops

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.

“All the three kidnapped policemen have been released by the Maoists from the Kajra-Chanan forest in Lakhisarai district after the police sealed the escape routes of the ultras in the forests and hills,” the police chief claimed.

The release comes a day after the Maoists claimed freeing them (on Sunday).

Maoist leader Kishenji is said to have called on the family of Abhay Pprasad Yadav on Sunday and had assured that the cops would be freed.