Raipur:
The four policemen, who were kidnapped by the Maoists on September 19 from Bhopalapatnam in Chhattisgarh, have been released.
The families of the cops are on their way to meet them.
Sources had earlier indicated that the kidnapped policemen might be released by Thursday evening.
According to sources, the Naxals had kidnapped the policemen to send a stern message to the government that they too are capable of arm twisting. The Naxals reportedly wanted the government to take them seriously.
The Maoists had killed three of the seven kidnapped policemen; they had demanded the withdrawal of operation Greenhunt, releasing jailed cadres, curtailing police atrocities and initiating peace talks in return for the remaining four cops.
Families of the abducted cops have been asking the government to act on the matter and bring back their loved ones.
The Naxals had set a 48-hour deadline for releasing the cops which was later extended to another 24 hours. After the fresh deadline expired on Wednesday, the state government had been engaged in negotiations with the Maoists to ensure the release of the policemen.