As many as 15 people, who were abducted by the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Bihar's Jamui district late on Monday, are yet to be traced despite intensified operations by security personnel.
Jamui Superintendent of Police Raj Narain Singh told The Hinduthat the hostages were being held in a 7-8 km stretch of mountainous terrain between Jamui and Giridih district, which falls in Jharkhand.
Police said eight labourers, three villagers and four employees of a private construction firm engaged by the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation were kidnapped at gun-point.
The outlaws stormed the firm's office at Balthar Ghat in Jamui after it refused to pay the requisite levy amount demanded by themAfter failing to know the whereabouts of the firm's contractors and other key personnel, they abducted the labourers and villagers.
Police said the ultras had not imposed any ultimatum as yet but were demanding a “sizeable” ransom.
