With Avinash, a self-proclaimed Maoist spokesman, telephoning media offices here yesterday and claiming that one of the four police hostages had been killed after the expiry of the deadline for freeing eight ultras in jail, the clock is ticking for the other abductees
With Avinash, a self-proclaimed Maoist spokesman, telephoning media offices here yesterday and claiming that one of the four police hostages had been killed after the expiry of the deadline for freeing eight ultras in jail, the clock is ticking for the other abductees.
|
| UNCERTAINTY LOOMS LARGE: The four policemen were abducted from the Lakhisarai district.
Representation PIC |
The spokesman conveyed a stern message and said that the final deadline for freeing the ultras is 10 am today, failing which the other three hostages would also meet the fate of Sub-inspector Abhay Yadav.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, meanwhile, extended an offer of talks to the Maoists.u00a0 "Who says we are not ready for talks? We are ready for talks for securing the release of the policemen being held hostage by the Maoists," Kumar said on the sidelines of a function here.
"We are ready to give full protection to anyone from their side coming for talksu00a0... we will bear the expenses that they incur to and from here," he said, adding that the talks could be held only on subjects which are within the domain of the state.
Director General of Bihar Police, Neelmani, however, said there was no evidence of the ultras having taken the extreme step. "Search operations have been intensified for the hostages," he said.
Meanwhile, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad too jumped into the fray and accused Nitish Kumar of failing to handle
the crisis.
"The state is insensitive and inhuman...the policemen continue to sacrifice their lives but still there is no care for them and their families," said Yadav.
