Suspense continued over the fate of the three policemen abducted by Maoists a week ago, with the extremists on Sunday claiming that they have released the hostages but there was no official confirmation. "We are verifying the reports about Maoists releasing the hostages on Sunday morning," Director General of Police, Mr Neelmani and IG (Operation) Mr K.S. Dwivedi, overseeing the combing operation in the districts of Munger, Jamui, Lakhisarai, Banka and Kaimur told PTI. "There is no official confirmation of the Maoists releasing the hostages as yet. We have alerted the superintendents of police of these districts, but not a single hostage has been located anywhere," they said. According to footage beamed on a local channel, a Maoist leader identifying himself as 'Kishanji' met family members
of one of the kidnapped policemen Abhay Prasad Yadav in the wee hours day and
claimed that he would be home soon. A solution to the week-long hostage crisis in the state had appeared in sight with a Maoist leader on Saturday night claiming that the three kidnapped policemen — Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Mohammad Ehsaan and Abhay Yadav —
would be freed by 8 am on Sunday. They had earlier killed one of the captives, Lucal Tete. His body was found on Friday.
Local TV channels in Jamui quoting Naxal sources said that the policemen were
released in Belhar forest on the border of Banka and Jamui. Under intense pressure to
end the crisis in the poll-bound state, the Chief Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, had offered
Maoists safe passage for talks yesterday. Avinash, a self-proclaimed spokesman for the
Maoists, had claimed on Saturday night that the central committee had decided to let off the three policemen after rejecting the chief minister's offer of talks.