Hazaribagh, Oct. 28 A group of suspected Maoist rebels abducted a police officer on Tuesday evening from Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand state.

Five armed men abducted Nirmal Toppo, circle officer of Keredari block of Hazaribagh district, when he had gone to inspect development work in a rural area.

No demands have yet been called by the abductors to the family members or the police.

Merry Anna Toppo, the wife of Nirmal said that the family came to know about his abduction on television only.

"We came to know about the abduction through television and we informed officials. SDO (Sub-Divisional Officer) and other officials have come to meet us," Merry Anna Toppo told reporters on Wednesday (October 28).

Police have launched an operation to rescue the abducted official.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Wednesday, condemned the seizure of Bhubaneshwar-Delhi Rajdhani Express by armed Maoist rebels on Tuesday and advised them to join the mainstream society.

"Kidnapping people and stopping trains is not an appropriate act. There are different forums and ways to fight for a cause and in democracy we have the right to go forward in front of people.

Politics is a platform to attract the electorate. There is no place for violence in society and violence cannot bring about any hange," said Kumar. (ANI)