By IANS,
Patna : The police Monday remained clueless about the whereabouts of seven election officials suspected to have been abducted by the Maoists during the ninth round of Bihar panchayat polls Sunday.
One election official was killed and two injured in a landmine blast triggered by the rebels Sunday in Jamui, a Maoist-affected district about 160 km from Patna.
The seven officials were reported missing following the bombing.
Bihar Police Chief Neelmani said a search operation was going on to rescue the missing men.
However, there were reports that the rebels are demanding the release of two of their men in exchange for the safe release of the abducted officials.
Jamui District Magistrate Manish Kumar said the mobile phones of the seven officials have been found switched off. “Maoists may have abducted them,” he said.
The rebels have issued a poll boycott call and threatened to disrupt the 10-phased phanchayat elections.