Maoists release abducted Jharkhand official

RANCHI - The Maoists Thursday released an official they abducted from Jharkhand’s Latehar district a day earlier, police said.

According to police, the rebels abducted seven officials from Pagar village, around 145 km from Ranchi. Six were released Wednesday evening but an official of the food and supply department, M.O. Kesar Murmu, was taken to a jungle and was freed only Thursday morning from Kurund jungle.

The rebels abducted Murmu for allegedly indulging in black marketing of foodgrain, police said.