Bihar CM Nitish kumar calls Maoists for talks

Under intense pressure to end the week- long hostage crisis in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday 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. "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 in Patna.
The Government offer for talks 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. The Maoists are demanding that eight of their arrested cadres be freed in exchange for the release of the hostages. Kumar said he had come across media reports that a person called Avinash claiming to be a spokesman of the Maoists had asked for talks. "But can the talks take place over phone? It is impossible to know their grievances unless they come forward for negotiations," Kumar said.