All the 11 persons kidnapped by Maoists in Munger district returned safely in the morning on Sunday after the ultras released them in a jungle. The villagers were let off around midnight, police officials said in Munger.
The police said the Maoists had no other option when they realised the security forces were hard on their heels.
"The abducted persons were released in the Basraha-Chormara forest when they were closely tracked by the security men led by Munger superintendent of police P Kannan," director general of police Neelmani said in Patna.
The kidnapped persons told the media the extremists tied their hands and kept them blindfolded them at an unknown location before setting them free.
Guddu Kumar, 10, the youngest of the 11, was asked by the red brigade to set free the villagers after they (Maoists) left the place.
"We were unaware about the location where they set us free. We could find our way to our village (Kareili) after sunrise," Guddu said. Laxman Koda said the abductors gave them flattened rice and other eatables.
"The abductors were talking in both Hindi and Bengali. Before the release, they warned us of dire consequences if we extended support to people such as the local mukhiya (headman)," a villager said.
{{/usCountry}}"The abductors were talking in both Hindi and Bengali. Before the release, they warned us of dire consequences if we extended support to people such as the local mukhiya (headman)," a villager said.
{{/usCountry}}Maoists dressed as CRPF men shot dead six persons, including two special police officers and abducted 11 villagers after an encounter with the police on Saturday.