Sep 6, 2010, 10:41 GMT
New Delhi - Maoist rebels in India's eastern state of Bihar released three abducted policemen on Monday, after holding them captive for over a week, officials said.
The rebels captured four policemen August 29 and demanded the release of eight of their leaders and the ceasing of operations against them.
After the government refused to negotiate, one of the policemen was found shot to death on Friday.
The remaining three were freed unharmed early Monday in Lakhisarai, around 150 kilometres south-east of state capital Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said.
'I am very happy at being freed this morning,' Rupesh Sinha, one of the freed policemen told reporters. 'I am not in a position to say more at this point.'
Kumar denied that any deal had been made with the terrorists. 'There was no deal. The government was firm on unconditional talks,' he said.
'We did everything possible. I feel that our appeal (for the victims' release) after the all-party meeting on Saturday helped end the crisis,' he added.
The rebels were quoted as saying that they had freed the policemen on 'compassionate and human grounds.'
Farida Khatoon, wife of released policeman Mohammad Ehsaan, said 'we will celebrate Eid today ahead of the actual Eid as he is returning home. Words cannot express my happiness.'
More than a third of India's 626 administrative districts are affected by insurgency, which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described as India's main internal security threat.
According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, 874 people - including civilians, security forces and rebels - were killed in the left-wing insurgency from January to August.
The rebels claim they are fighting for the rights of tribal, landless and poor people and usually target police and security forces. They are active in some of the country's poorest regions.
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