Maoists release Jharkhand BDO

Ranchi, Feb 19 (ANI): Maoists on Friday evening released abducted Jharkhand Block Development Officer (BDO) Prashant Kumar Layak after keeping him as hostage for six days.

On Saturday, in a broad daylight incident armed Maoists had abducted Layak from Dalbhumgarh village in East Singhbhum District as soon as he completed a Grama Sabha in Delbhumgarh.

Maoists had demanded the release of some jailed cadres.

Earlier in the day, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren accepted the Maoists' key demand that arrested cadres to be freed and appealed to the Maoists to release the BDO.

Maoists had three demands for the release of Layak-release all 14 villagers who were arrested on the charges of aiding Naxalites, increasing payment for NREGA workers and bailout of two Maoists who were surrendered as per the Jharkhand surrender policy.

However, there was no information whether the government accepted these demands or not.

Layak was the second officer to be abducted in Jharkhand by Maoists.

In September 2009, Special officer Francis Indudwar was abducted and beheaded by the Maoists. (ANI)