Maoists release three abducted officials

Three government officials taken hostage by Maoists from a passenger bus were released after 24 hours in a forested pocket of Chhattisgarh's restive Bastar region, a senior official said today.

Three government officials taken hostage by Maoists from a passenger bus were released after 24 hours in a forested pocket of Chhattisgarh's restive Bastar region, a senior official said on Saturday.

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Maoists released the three government officials in a remote area of Bijapur district last (Friday) night. The officials were taken hostage from a passenger bus from the same area while they were on way to Bhopalpatnam in Bijapur district, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) TJ Longkumer said.

"The three men are low-ranking government officials and are in good mental and physical condition after their release," the official said. The men were being questioned about where the rebels kept them during captivity and what they wanted to know.

Meanwhile, a patrolling police team apprehended six Maoists, including a deputy commander rank leader of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), Friday night from Kuakonda area in Dantewada district.

Police claim the Maoists, who all are in their early 20s, were involved in the attack on Congress leader Awadhesh Singh Gautam's house in Dantewada district in July.