Haveli Kharaghpur (Munger): Residents of Haveli Kharaghpur sub-division in Munger on Friday hit the streets to protest the kidnapping of a mukhiya (village headman) and his young son by unidentified men, feared to be Maoists, on Thursday evening.

Police have not yet confirmed the Maoist role. A large number of people squatted on the Munger-Kharaghpur road near Nandalal Bose Chak for over seven hours in protest.

Munger superintendent of police (SP) Ashish Bharati, who rushed to Haveli Kharaghpur with sub-divisional officer (SDO) Sanjeev Kumar, assured the protesters the two would be brought back safely after which the blockage was lifted around 1.30pm.

Police sources said some masked men abducted the mukhiya, Bhola Verma, 57, and his son Shambhu, 38, while they were taking a stroll outside their house on Thursday evening in Dariyapur-2 panchayat under Haveli Kharaghpur police station.

"There were around 6-7 people and they carried firearms with them," said a resident on the condition of anonymity. "They took the two towards the forest. Earlier, two motorcyclists had asked an elderly woman where the mukhiya stayed."

Residents said the mukhiya was earlier under pressure from the rebels who were demanding levy from him. "But he recently fulfilled their demands by giving cash, blankets and other items," a resident said.

Earlier, in 2011, Maoists had killed Barun Paswan, son of then Dariapur panchayat mukhiya Darogi Paswan. In 2004 , the rebels had killed then mukhiya of the same panchayat, Arun Yadav.

Mukhiya Bhola's family members refused comment. "Please don't disturb us, it's a critical situation for us," one of them said. They also denied having received any phone call from the abductors.

The Munger SP could not be contacted for comment, but he sent a message to say he would not be able to speak. "Police have started searches but we still don't know how it happened or who all were involved," SDO Kumar said.

Bhagalpur deputy inspector-general (DIG) Vikas Vaibhav, also in charge of Munger police zone, said: "We're probing but it is not wise to comment without proper investigation." He said a massive combing operation was on under the leadership of Munger SP. "Sniffer dogs and CRPF personnel entered the forest but because of topographic inaccessibility they could not go further."

Apart from Munger SP, those of Jamui and Lakhisarai have been told to keep a strict vigil in areas near Munger, he said.