As the Maoist deadline for release of eight of their jailed colleagues in exchange of four kidnapped securitymen draws to an end, Bihar police today said it had received vital clues about the whereabouts of the abducted policemen.
IG (Operation) KS Dwivedi told PTI from Lakhisarai district, from where the four securitymen were kidnapped on Sunday, that anti-Naxal operation would be stepped up in the hilly terrains of the district and adjoining Jamui district.
"We have received vital clues about the whereabouts of the kidnapped policemen and we are sure of a successful operation," Dwivedi said.
On the Maoist demands for release of their 'commanders' from captivity by four PM today, he said the persons referred to were "not at all hardcore Naxalites or Maoist commanders'.
Avinash, a self-proclaimed spokesman of the CPI(Maoist), had yesterday said his organisation had communicated the deadline for release of the persons to chief minister Nitish Kumar's official residence in Patna, failing which they would kill all the four securitymen.
Dwivedi said, "We are not guided by any statement of the so-called spokesman of the Maoists to the media and we will do what we are doing."
Six Bihar military police personnel, officer-in-charge of Kawaiya police outpost Bhulan Yadav and a policeman were killed in the fierce encounter with Maoists under Kajra PS in Lakhisarai district on Sunday.
The Maoists also abducted Rupesh Kumar (SI), Abhay Prasad Yadav (SI), Lucas Tete (BMP jawan) and Ehtesham Khan (BMP Havildar) during the encounter.
