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"I am alive because of God's grace and blessings of my parents and family. I am extremely happy." This is what Bihar Police Sub-Inspector Rupesh Kumar Sinha, one of the three abducted policemen, said after being released by the Maoists on Monday morning.
Voicing similar sentiments, Rajni Devi, wife of Abhay Prasad Yadav, another released sub-inspector, said, "God heard my prayers and I thank him. I thank my Maoist brothers also, who released my husband. And I'm desperately waiting for my husband to return. I also thank the Bihar administration who considered my husband as their son. On behalf of the entire village, my children, I thank the Bihar government. I will be indebted to my Maoist brothers till the time I'm alive," she said.
The three policemen -- Yadav, Sinha and Ehshan Khan, who were taken hostage on August 29, were freed by the ultras on Monday morning on the border of Kajra-Chanan forests and hills, about 165 kms from the state capital Patna.
The Maoists had earlier killed one of the captive policemen, Lucas Tete. His body was found on Friday.
Superintendent of police, Lakhisarai, Ranjit Kumar Mishra said all those involved in taking the policemen hostage will be brought to justice. "Those involved in it will be brought to justice. We will take action," he said.
Senior doctor of Lakhisarai hospital Dharam Dev Singh said all the freed policemen were in good health. "They are alright. They all are normal and fit," he said.
The hostage crisis began on August 29 when the four policemen were kidnapped after an encounter, which left seven policemen dead and ten injured.
Two days later, the Maoists issued an ultimatum to the state government that they would kill the four hostages if it did not release the eight jailed Maoists by 10:00 am next morning, which was later extended to 4:00 pm on Thursday.