A solution to the week-long hostage crisis in Bihar appeared to be in sight with a Maoist leader claiming that the three kidnapped policemen will be freed today. Avinash, a self-proclaimed spokesman for the Maoists, claimed last night that the central committee of the ultra-left wing group has decided to let off the three policemen held captive by them. Avinash reportedly told some local media persons in Jamui that the committee has decided to release the hostages unconditionally on humanitarian considerations.However, there was no official confirmation to the Maoist move to release the three policemen – Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Mohammad Ehsaan and Abhay Yadav.When contacted, Director General of Police Neelmani said he is not aware of any information about this.The Maoist spokesman said that the hostages will not be handed over either to the police or media persons and they will be sent to their respective families safe and sound.The Spokesman said the Maoist Central Committee, which met in the jungles near Jamui late last evening, has however rejected the talks offer made by the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The Chief Minister had yesterday appealed to the Maoists to come forward for talks and offered safe passage to them for the purpose.All political parties of Bihar also appealed to the Maoists to release the three captive policemen. The decision to make an appeal was made at an all party meeting held in Patna yesterday. Earlier, the Maoists had killed one of the hostages, Lucas Tete, a Havildar of the Bihar Military Police.Meanwhile, the Bihar Police nabbed two Maoist leaders Pintoo Da and Bahadur Yadav linked to the abduction of the policemen in Lakhisarai district. Our Patna Correspondent reports that security forces have further intensified search and rescue operations to trace the security men being held hostage by the Maoists since Sunday.”A massive manhunt is on hideouts of Maoists. Jawans of the RPF, CRPF, BSF and Special Task Force are looking for securitymen in forest areas of Lakhaisarai, Monger, Banka and Jamui districts of the state. Family members of hostage police personnel said that Maoists have assured them to release the abducted policemen. There is an anxious wait among people about relase of policemen who are held hostage by Maoists.