Bihar: Kidnapped BDO released by Maoists

Block development officer of Tariyani in Sheohar district, Manoj Singh, was on Monday released by the Maoists, a top district police officer said.

Singh was freed by the ultras at an isolated place near Turkey village on NH-30 in Muzaffarpur district this evening, District Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar said.

The BDO was hale and hearty, he added. Singh was kidnapped by armed Maoists from Ladhoura village in the district yesterday where he had gone to supervise preparation of election photo identity card.

Taking advantage of the absence of escort with him, Maoists had pulled the BDO out of his vehicle and took him away on their motorcycles to an undisclosed destination.

The wife and son of the kidnapped BDO had appealed to the Maoists to release him unharmed and urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to personally intervene in the matter.

"We are like your own ... We request you with folded hands to release him. We shall be ever obliged," said Lata Singh, the BDO's wife to the Maoists with tears in her eyes.

Abhimanyu, his son, had also requested the chief minister to immediately intervene for the release of his father.