Maoists release kidnapped Bihar government officer

MUZAFFARPUR/PATNA - Maoists set Block Development Officer (BDO) Manoj Kumar Singh free on Tuesday, two days after his abduction from Bihar’s Sheohar District where he had gone on an official visit.

Tariyani Block Development Officer Singh reached his home in Muzaffarpur at around 11 a.m. today.

“He is in a state of nervousness and has confined himself to a room,” said Additional Director-General Headquarters P K Thakur in Patna.

“Singh was kidnapped on August 29 from Ladhoura village where he had gone for election-related work,” said Inspector General (Tirhut zone) Gupteshwar Pandey.

“The BDO was traceless till Tuesday morning despite a massive search. The joint forces of Bihar Military Police (BMP), CRPF and Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) from Sheohar, Madhubani, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi had been engaged in the search,” he added.

Singh was abducted on August 29 when he had gone to a village to inspect voters’ identity cards. The driver, a doctor and a domestic help were also abducted with the official.

The police had then launched a search and found the BDO’s jeep near the village.

Director General of Police Neelmani had earlier said combing operations have been launched under the supervision of two IGs and five Superintendents of Police, including those of Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani and Muzaffarpur districts.

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