Body of Bihar policeman found in Lakhisarai jungles

Lakhisarai, (Bihar) Sep 3 (ANI): The body of sub-inspector Lucas Tete, an abducted policeman has been found in the Lakhisarai jungles of Bihar with a note from Naxals saying, "We have killed a hawaldar since our colleagues were not released. If our colleagues are not released we will kill other cops as well."

Tete along with Mohammad Ehsaan, Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Abhay Prasad Yadav, 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.

A new deadline set by the Naxals for releasing the abducted cops in exchange for their jailed comrades had ended at 10 a.m. today.

The Maoists called local TV channels on Thursday to declare that one of the four policemen they had kidnapped had been killed as the government had failed to respond.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said he is open to having talks with the Naxals.

"By taking people hostage, I don't know what example the Naxals are trying to set," Kumar said at a public event on Thursday. (ANI)