Abducted policemen freed, no deal with Maoists, says Nitish (Evening Lead)

PATNA - Three policemen abducted by Maoists walked free Monday after being released by their captors in Bihar, ending eight days of a hostage drama that saw one of their colleagues killed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar insisted there had been no deal with the rebels.

Policemen Abhay Kumar Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehsan Khan were freed around 6 a.m. in Lakho Chak area of Lakhisarai district, about 150 km from here, and were said to be “safe and healthy”.

In Patna, Nitish Kumar said a joint appeal by political parties as well as public pressure had helped secure their release and they had been sent home.

Nitish Kumar told reporters: “There was no deal. The government was firm on unconditional talks. We did everything possible. I feel that our appeal after the all-party meeting (Saturday) helped end the crisis.”

The three men returned to a joyous welcome from their relieved families.

Yadav was warmly welcomed by his family and villagers when he reached his home in Mohanpur in Begusarai district. “He was garlanded, his face was smeared with colours and his wife Rajni welcomed him home with special rituals,” a relative of Yadav said.

Rupesh Kumar was welcomed home by his mother, father, sister and other relatives, who garlanded him and shared sweets in thanksgiving.

Khan was brought to Patna, where he was welcomed at the Bihar Policemen’s Association office and then he, along with his relatives, left for his home in Ranchi.

The three men made it clear that they had not been tortured by Maoists and were provided food and other amenities.

Bihar police chief Neelmani said earlier: “The three policemen have been freed by the Maoists. They are safe and healthy.”

Hundreds of people gathered outside the police station in Lakhisarai town to have a glimpse of the men when they were brought there Monday morning.

The three alongwith colleague Lucas Tete were kidnapped by Maoists after a six-hour gunfight in Lakhisarai Aug 29. While Ehsan Khan hails from Jharkhand, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Abhay Yadav, belong to Bihar. Tete was killed by the rebels Sep 3.

Nitish Kumar said he regretted the killing of Tete, who belonged to Jharkhand.

The chief minister, however, said he could not guarantee that such incidents would not occur again. “Nobody can guarantee that such incidents will not be repeated.”

“I am very happy. I can’t express my joy when my husband told me over telephone that he has been released and was safe,” Rajni Devi, Yadav’s wife, told IANS over telephone from their village Mohanpur.

Yadav’s 70-year-old mother Naina Devi said: “It is like rebirth for my son.”

Yadav had been mistakenly identified by the Maoists as the policeman they killed, causing agony to the family. The victim later turned out to be Tete.

On Sunday morning, there was intense speculation that the three policemen had been freed. But there was no confirmation.

On Monday, Manju Sinha, mother of freed policeman Rupesh Kumar, said: “We are celebrating. It is like Diwali for us.”

The family of policeman Khan were preparing for Eid, which is due Saturday, after his release. Last week, Khan’s family in Mandar block of Ranchi had stopped Eid preparations.

His father Mohiuddin Khan Monday said: “We will celebrate Eid today as my son is reaching home. We are preparing for it already. We have offered prayers to thank Allah for his safe release.” The Khan family distributed sweets as hundreds gathered at their home.

However, in Tete’s home in Jharkhand, there was gloom. Tete was the only policeman to be killed among the four seized by Maoists.

The policemen were abducted after the Aug 29 gunbattle that also 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.