Maoists strike again, kill nine villagers

Jamui (Bihar), Feb 18 (ANI): Despite swapping a deal with the Jharkhand Government for the safe release of abducted Dalbhumgarh Block Development Officer (BDO) Prashant Kumar Layek, the Maoists on Thursday in an ongoing police encounter killed around nine villagers and abducted 10 others from Phulwari Korsi in Jamui district of Bihar.

Maoists posing themselves as police informers attacked the village and set several houses on fire.

Earlier on Wednesday night, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren accepting a key demand of Maoists for the safe release of BDO Layek said the legal process to set free 14 rebels, who the Maoists claim to be innocent has begun.

Addressing the media in Ranchi, Soren said, "Maoists have set some conditions to set free Dalbhumgarh BDO Prasant Kumar Layek. Their chief demand is to release innocent villagers now lodged in Dalbhumgarh jail. All the cases are pending in the court. The legal process to release them has already begun."

"So, I appeal to them (Maoists) to set free our officer unharmed at the earliest," added Soren.

The fate of abducted BDO Layek hangs in balance, as the Maoists on Wednesday demanded a statement from Soren on their conditions to set free BDO Layek.(ANI)