Naxals kill one abducted cop in Bihar

Patna/New Delhi, Sep 2 (ANI): The Naxalas have killed Sub-Inspector Abhay Prasad Yadav, one of the four cops, who were taken hostage during an encounter in Bihar's Lakhisarai District on Sunday.

The deadline set by the Maoists for releasing four abducted cops in exchange for their jailed comrades had ended at 10 am today.

The Naxals have threatened to kill the policemen if their demands were not met. They want their jailed colleagues to be released and security forces withdrawn from Naxal infested areas.

Earlier today, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured all support to the families of the cops taken as hostage, and police top brass have also been asked to do everything possible to get the kidnapped cops released.

It has been reported that the area around the Chief Minister's residence in Patna has been selaed, as the Maoists may attempt to hold talks with Kumar.

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai, however, earlier today said that the Bihar Government is trying its best to secure the release of the four policemen kidnapped by Maoists.

"The State government has been making all efforts to secure the release of the police personnel who have been taken hostage," said Pillai.

"The State government is now negotiating with the Maoists and, we are extending full cooperation. We hope that there would be a successful outcome," he added.

The four policemen - Mohammad Ehsaan, Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Abhay Prasad Yadav, Lokus Tete- were taken hostage on Sunday, during an encounter in the forests of Lakhisarai. Seven other policemen were killed and eleven were injured in the same encounter.

The encounter began on Sunday evening when over 150 armed Maoists attacked search teams of the Bihar police combing the area following intelligence reports of the Maoists presence in the forest area. (ANI)