Ranchi: At least eight officials, including engineers of Hindustan Construction Company were kidnapped by Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) activists from Kosma in Hazaribag district of Jharkhand.

The director general of police (DGP) control room sources in Ranchi said on July 10 that around 100 armed extremists surrounded the makeshift office at Kosma late on July 9 night and beat up some labourers. Thereafter they took the officials along with them.

Unconfirmed reports said 15 officials were kidnapped while seven were let off later.

The officials were engaged in road construction work at Kosma under Barkatha police station.

PTI