Indian Maoists in Bihar kill policeman

NEW DELHI, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Indian Maoists in Bihar claim to have killed a policeman, one of four law enforcement officers they abducted from Lakhisarai district four days ago.

The slain officer was identified as sub-inspector Abhay Yadav, The Times of India reported Friday.

Maoist spokesman Avinash said Yadav was killed because the government refused to swap the policemen for eight of the Maoists' jailed comrades. The Maoists held Yadav and his colleagues in the Kajra hills of Lakhisarai district since Sunday. The prisoners whom the Maoists wanted liberated are held in jails in Bhagalpur, Jamui, Gaya and Banka.

Police were trying to verify the authenticity of the Maoists' claim, Inspector General K. S. Dwivedi maintaining that he hadn't received specific information about Yadav's killing.

Avinash said the remaining three hostages were safe, commenting, "We don't kill common people."

Police have been searching for the captives since Monday with the help of a Border Security Forces helicopter.