Two of eight missing Maoists found

Two of the eight Maoists, who fled while being taken from court to jail after the ultras fired on a transit van in Giridih town, have been found.

While one of the Maoists returned on his own, another was found admitted to a nursing home.

The Maoist who returned was identified Baijnath while the other Bipin Mandal was in a nursing home where policemen injured in yesterday's attack were admitted, Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) SN Pradhan said.

The other six Maoists were still missing, he said.

Three of the ten weapons looted during the attack which left three policemen and a prisoner dead, were also recovered, he said.

The intention of the ultras, who arrived in a jeep and 12 motorcycles, was to free dreaded Maoist Anuj, Pradhan said.

The Maoist attackers comprised a 'firing squad' led by an ultra named Chirag, he said.

The jeep and motorcycles were recovered, he said.

Pradhan said that only some of the policemen escorting the van had showed courage in confronting the Maoists.

He said six companies of security forces would be permanently deployed in Giridih district to prevent such incidents.