Bihar Police escalate efforts to locate abducted manager held by Maoists in Gaya

Bihar police, in collaboration with central security agencies, have intensified efforts to locate and rescue Shahbaz Khan, the manager of a Gaya-based bridge construction company, who was abducted by Maoists on December 24.

While two employees were released on Monday (December 25), the Maoists have demanded a ransom of Rs.30 lakh for the safe release of Shahbaz Khan. The search operation, led by the Gaya senior superintendent of police, Ashish Bharti, involves coordinated intelligence gathering, and the use of drone cameras, and other equipment.

The Maoist zonal squad, commanded by Vivek Yadav, is suspected to be behind the abduction. Yadav, who took charge last year, has increased efforts to collect funds from construction firms in the region to revive the organization. He is also implicated in several cases of attacks on construction company camps and the destruction of equipment.

As part of the ongoing search, police arrested Maoist-turned-criminal Manoj Yadav and Kuhu Yadav, who was absent from home during the abduction. The two individuals are being interrogated in connection with Shahbaz Khan's kidnapping, while authorities prioritize securing his safe release.