Kidnapped Bihar policemen return home

Eight-day long hostage crisis is over as Maoists set free three policemen Abhay Yadav and Rupesh Kumar Sinha--both from Bihar--and Ehsan Khan from Jharkhand around 6 AM in Lakho Chak area of Bihar's Lakhisarai district, about 165 km from Patna on September 6, 2010. The Maoists had earlier killed one of the captive policemen, Lucas Tete. His body was found on Friday.

Celebrations broke out in the Patna Police Lines as jawans celebrated the safe return of Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehsan Khan. The third captive Abhay Yadav, however, returned to his native place Khagaria.

In Bihar and neighbouring Jharkand, residents distributed sweets and offered prayers of thanks after the news of their release unharmed this morning broke out.

Photo: Rupesh Kumar Sinha (top) and Ehsan Khan (bottom).

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui