Maoist rebels release 11 abducted villagers in India

[News_Editor]

Maoist rebels release 11 abducted villagers in India

2011-07-03 21:24:22 GMT+7 (ICT)

BIHAR, INDIA (BNO NEWS) -- Eleven people abducted by suspected Maoist rebels were released on Sunday in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, Press Trust of India reported.

"The abducted people were released in Basraha-Chormara jungle near the village when they were closely tracked by the security men, led by Superintendent of Police, Munger, P. Kannan yesterday," Director General of Police Neelmani said, adding they returned home safe on Saturday evening.

The abducted villagers returned to the village of Bangalwa Kareli, about 200 km (124 miles) from the state capital Patna, in Munger district.

At least six people were killed on Saturday after nearly 50 armed rebels, who posed as paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force, stormed the village. The attack appeared to be revenge strike by the rebels on the villagers who had stood up against them.



The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of tribal, landless and poor people in the country's poorest regions. They are active in several states in central and eastern India and often target police and government officials, killing at least 1,174 rebels, troops and civilians last year alone.

More than one-third of India's 626 administrative districts are affected by the Maoist insurgency, which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described as the country's biggest internal security challenge.

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