Bihar: 8 labourers abducted by Maoists released

Eight construction labourers abducted by Maoists from Bihar's Jamui district were released on early Wednesday, police said.

Jamui Superintendent of Police Upendra Sharma said that the labourers were released because of increasing pressure of combing operations launched by the security forces. 

The labourers were abducted at gunpoint by a group of more than 50-armed Maoists early on Sunday after the construction company employing them refused to pay the levy demanded by the rebels. The incident took place near Baldidih village in Jamui, about 200 km from Patna.

According

to police officials in police headquarters, Maoists released the abducted labourers on assurance from concerned district authorities that construction work of a bridge would be stopped.

Earlier, a self-styled Maoist leader Sidhu Koda informed the local media about the abduction. Koda claimed that labourers were abducted as the company engaged in construction had defied their directive of stopping work.

Earlier, Maoists had abducted 15 people, including 12 labourers, in Jamui but later released them unharmed. 

Jamui is considered a rebel stronghold.