By IANS,
Ranchi : Maoist rebels Friday freed eight labourers whom they had abducted from a brick factory in Palamau district of Jharkhand, police said.
Around 30 rebels of the Maoist group Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) abducted the labourers Thursday night from a brick factory in Vishrampur town, about 200 km from here.
Police said the TPC had demanded money from the owner of the brick factory but he had refused to pay up. So, the rebels decided to abduct his workers.
The Maoists guerrillas freed the labourers following a gunbattle with security forces who were on the lookout for the abducted men.
On Monday, the TPC had abducted six villagers in Latehar district. They were later set free.
Maoists are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state. About 1,450 people have been killed in Maoist-related violence in the last eight years.