Bihar hostage drama ends; Maoists free three policemen (Second Lead)

PATNA - Maoist guerrillas released the three abducted Bihar policemen in Lakhisarai district Monday, ending the tense seven-day drama. They were “safe and healthy”, state police chief Neelmani said.

“The three policemen have been freed by the Maoists. They are safe and healthy. They will be sent to their homes soon,” he told reporters here.

The three policemen - Abhay Prasad Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehsan Khan - were set free around 6 a.m. in Lakho Chak area of Lakhisarai district, about 150 km from here. They are now in police custody.

“They are relaxed and happy. Their smiling and bright faces show that they are in an upbeat mood after their release,” another police official told IANS on phone from Lakhisarai.

“Top police officials and Lakhisarai district magistrate have been talking to the released policemen. They will be brought before the media soon,” the police official said.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the police station in Lakhisarai town to have a glimpse of the three released policemen.

“It is not yet decided whether they will be taken to their respective homes or to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna,” the police official said.

Reports reaching here said that there is a festival-like air in the homes of the three released policemen.

“We will celebrate Eid Monday itself ahead of real Eid as my son is reaching home. We are busy preparing for it,” Ehsan’s father Mohiuddin Khan said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by family members of Rupesh and Abhay. “It is a red letter day for us. We will celebrate it like never before,” Rupesh’s father Uday Shankar Sinha said.

Rajni Devi, the wife of Abhay, is unable to epress her happiness. She said she was waiting to welcome her husband.

The release comes days after the bullet-riddled body of Lucas Tete, another abducted policemen, was found near a forest in Lakhisarai district. He was killed by the Maoists Sep 3.

The four policemen were abducted by Maoists after a six-hour gunfight in Lakhisarai Aug 29.

The gunbattle left seven policemen dead and 10 injured. The Maoists claimed the gunfight was in retaliation for the killing of their leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad and a journalist on the night of July 1-2 in Andhra Pradesh.