Zilla Parishad chief, 3 others abducted by Maoists

Maoists today claimed to have abducted the chairperson of Garhwa Zilla Parishad and three others, and demanded the removal of police camps in Latehar district for their release.

Police, however, said they did not have any information about the abduction.

"Zilla Parishad chairperson Susma Mehta and three other persons are in our custody," a person claiming to be CPI (Maoist)'s 'Koel Committee' spokesperson informed the media at Latehar over phone.

The four would be freed if the Jharkhand government removed three police base camps set up in Latehar's Sarju, Odya and Kone areas, said the spokesperson, who identified himself as Sudhirji.

Following the landmine blast yesterday, Mehta's husband claimed that Maoists had abducted his wife, her bodyguard Sunesh Ram, driver Ahmed and CPI (ML-Liberation) leader Akhtar Ansari.

The four persons were abducted while travelling in a car, soon after Maoists killed 13 policemen in a landmine blast near Bariganwa forest yesterday, he had said.

Earlier in the day, Director General of Police GS Rath told reporters in  Garhwa that officials had no information about any such abduction.