Maoists have warned of killing other three cops, if eight of their colleagues aren't released

The bullet-ridden body of one of the four policemen taken hostage by Maoists was found in Bihar's Lakhisarai district yesterday.

The body of Lucas Tete, an ASI of the Bihar Military Police, shot in the chest was found at the Simra Tari Sringirishi dam, about 150 km from Patna.


The Bihar government has sought an additional 40 companies of central forces for stepping up search and rescue operations.u00a0Also, BSF helicopters with Cobra personnel on board are in the air to locate the kidnapped policemen.

Besides, a Maoist poster left beside the body, clad in a vest, blue shirt and sarong, read, "Time is running out fast and if the state government fails to accede to our demand for releasing eight of our colleagues in jails, the other three will meet a similar fate."

The Maoists had kidnapped sub-inspectors Rupesh Kumar and Yadav, BMP havaldar Ehtesham Khan and Tete after the encounter on Sunday, which left eight policemen dead.

They have demanded the release of jailed Maoists Jai Paswan, Vijay Chourasia, Prem Bhuian, Pramod Barnawal, Ramvilas Tanti, Ramesh Tirki, Arjun Koda and Rattu Koda by 10 am yesterday.

Rescue operation

The operations were concentrated in the hilly and forest areas in Dharhara, Kajra and other places in Munger, Jamui and Lakhisarai districts, said IG (Operations), KS Dwivedi, overseeing the operations.
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BSF helicopters with Cobra personnel on board were in the air to locate the kidnapped policemen, he added.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Lalu Prasad appealed to the Naxals "to come forward for talks."

BJP attacks centre

The BJP yesterday accused the Congress-led UPA government of having no uniformity of policy on the Maoists and said its leaders keep making contradictory statements on the issue. "The government is only making bold statements," senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu.

Naidu also mentioned that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had shared the dais with Maoists at a public rally at Lalgarh on August 9.
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"It seems that the Trinamool Congress has differences in policy with the government about the Maoists."