The body of a Bihar Military Police constable, Lucas Tete, one of the four policemen taken hostage by Maoists five days ago, was found lying on a deserted forest track in Lakhiserai district on Friday morning, contrary to the Maoists’ claim on Thursday that they had killed sub-inspector Abhay Yadav.
Tete’s cold-blooded murder by the rebels put the Bihar government and the police on tenterhooks there was no information available about the safety of the three other policemen taken hostage. The Maoists stopped telephopnic communication with journalists after their deadline for the release of these hostages expired at 10 am Friday.
The rebels’ claim of having killed Abhay Yadav remained shrouded in mystery and raised speculation about the safety of Yadav and the two others. But search and raid operations by joint security forces were stepped up in Lakhiserai and Munger districts as part of a new strategy to rescue the hostages, said sources.
A hand-written note found near havaldar Tete’s bullet-riddled body reiterated the Maoists’ two demands — the release of eight Maoists from various Bihar jails and the withdrawal of security forces from Lakhiserai and surrounding areas — in exchange for the safe release of the three hostages. No new deadline was set.