Patna:
In a big breakthrough this morning, the Bihar police arrested two Maoists who were involved in the kidnapping of the four policemen in Kajra on Sunday.
They were caught during the combing operations that have been launched by the Bihar police in the jungles of Lakhisarai district where the Maoists are believed to be holding the three policemen hostage.
They have also picked up eight suspected Naxals from villages near the Sunday encounter site. Believed to be involved in the encounter, they are being interrogated.
Combing operations to trace the three policemen abducted by the Naxals were on Saturday expanded to fresh areas in Bihar's Banka, Kaimur, Jamui, Munger and Lakhisarai districts.
"The area of combing has been further expanded to the districts of Banka, Kaimur and fresh hilly and forest areas in Munger, Jamui and Lakhisarai districts," said Director General of Police (DGP) Neelmani.
It has been more than 24 hours since the second deadline set by the Naxals has ended, but the Naxals are claiming that the three policemen in their custody are still safe. Four policemen were taken hostage during an encounter with Naxals in Lakhisarai, 150 kilometres east of Patna on Sunday.
One of the policemen, Hawaldar Lukas Tete, was killed by the Naxals after the first deadline ended and his body was found in on Friday morning in the jungles of Lakhisari district.
In a note that they left on this body, the Naxals threatened to do away with the three remaining hostages if eight of their comrades are not released from jail.