Patna:
It has been two days since Havaldar Mohammad Ehsaan went missing. Along with three other policemen from Lakhisarai in East Bihar, Ehsaan is believed to have been taken hostage by the 200 odd Naxals they were fighting.
"I appeal to the Naxals to release my husband. He was just doing his job. It is not his fault," pleaded Farida Begum, Havaldar Ehsaan's wife.
On Sunday night, the 40-member strong security force that Ehsaan was part of fought a 12-hour-long gun battle with the Maoists in the jungles of Bihar's Lakhisarai. Seven policemen were killed.
"We have taken four policemen hostage to retaliate against Operation Greenhunt. If the security forces don't beat a retreat, we will kill them. We will release them in exchange of our jailed comrades: Jai Paswan, Ashok Paswan, Vijay Chaurasia and Nityanand Chaurasia," said Avinash, Zonal Commander of CPI (Maoist).
Bihar police officials say they are carrying out combing operations and that there is no question of accepting the Naxal demands.
"We underestimated the Naxal presence in the area, and that is why there were so many casualties," said Neel Mani, Director General of Police, Bihar.
Even though nearly 48 hours have passed, there is still no headway in the case.