Cops will be freed today: Maoists

Cops will be freed today: Maoists
Reject talks offer by Nitish
PTI
JAMUI (Bihar), SEPT 4
A Maoist spokesman tonight said the three policemen taken hostage by them in Lakhisarai would be freed by tomorrow morning and the outfit’s top decision-making body rejected the talks offered by Bihar government.
  Avinash, the self-proclaimed spokesman, said the Central CPI (Maoist) has decided to release the hostages “unconditionally on humanitarian considerations”.
“The Maoists Central Committee met in the jungle near Jamui late this evening after the all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar offered talks with us… we are not going to get influenced by it”, he told local mediamen.
Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier today invited Maoists holding three policemen captive for talks even offering them safe passage after securing an all-party consensus.
A day after the bullet-riddled body of Lucas Tete, one of the four abducted policemen, was found, Kumar said the all party meeting convened by him also appealed to the Maoists to release unharmed the three remaining hostages who the rebels said were safe.
The government offer for talks after a Maoist spokesman called for an immediate dialogue came on a day when police arrested nine Naxalites including two who were reported to be involved in the kidnapping incident in Lakhisarai district on Sunday. The arrest of the rebels came when combing operations were expanded to fresh areas in Munger district.
“I am personally ready for holding talks with the Maoists. We guarantee providing full security and safe passage to Maoist representatives irrespective of the outcome. No police action will be taken,” Kumar told reporters after an all party meeting here.