Fifteen people who were abducted by Maoists from Bihar’s Jamui district were on Saturday released by the rebels in a jungle here, police said.
The ultras freed them in the forest near Charaiya area. They were being sent back to their respective families, they said.
CRPF, Special Task Force and police were engaged in the operations to secure safe release of the abducted persons, Additional DGP (Headquarters) Ravindra Kumar said.
On Monday, a group of about 50 Maoists had stormed the office of a private company engaged by Bihar State Bridge Corporation to construct a bridge over Bharnar river and abducted the 15 people at gunpoint.
The 15 comprised eight labourers, four employees of the firm and 3 villagers.
The refusal of the management of the construction firm to meet the extortion demands of the ultras was suspected to be the reason behind the abduction, Mr. Kumar said.
Stating that all the freed people were hale and hearty, DGP Abhayanand said police had collected several evidences relating to kidnapping of the labourers and others.
Without naming any outfit, he said the involvement of an organisation banned by the Centre is believed to be behind the incident.
He clarified that although the case registered at Sono police station said 15 persons were kidnapped by the Maoists, but on verification it was found that 14 persons were kidnapped and another was on leave on that night.