The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of the poor Maoist rebels in the Indian state of Bihar have said they have killed one of four policemen they have been holding hostage.
The claim has not been independently verified.
The rebels had told the state authorities they would start killing the policemen from Thursday unless eight Maoist prisoners were released.
The rebels took the policemen hostage on Monday after a gunfight in which seven other policemen were killed.
Indian security forces have been battling Maoists in several states.
More than 200 security personnel have been killed in the first six months of this year.
Scores of rebels battled with the police, who were on patrol in forests in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district, about 150km (95 miles) from the state capital, Patna, late on Sunday.
The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and the landless.
Last year, the Indian government launched a major offensive against the Maoists in several states. The insurgency is seen as the country’s biggest internal security challenge.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.