Bhagalpur, June 29: Suspected Maoists reportedly kidnapped Juhi Tyagi, 25, a research scholar associated with a US-based university, and her driver from near Mahulitand village under Kouwakol police station in the Naxalite-affected Jamui district on Wednesday. She is said to be a resident of Bangalore.

Jamui superintendent of police R.N. Singh told The Telegraph over phone that the police received news of Juhi’s abduction this afternoon. “No family member of the girl has so far informed the police or lodged any formal complaint in this regard,” he said.

Singh said Juhi had gone to the area with her driver, Pradeep Das, on a motorcycle for research work. A visitor to the region for the past one-and-a-half years, she used to stay in Mahuli hamlet under Kouwakol police station on the border of Jamui and Nawada districts, he added.

The SP said Juhi had come to Jamui about two weeks ago. “She travelled to the most inaccessible parts of Jamui district for her research work. The police got information that Juhi had left the hamlet around 10am on Tuesday with Das for research work on a motorcycle.

“She was scheduled to board the train for Bangalore today. She, however, did not return to the place she was staying for the past few days. The mobiles of both the victims were found switched off. The reason behind the kidnapping is yet to be ascertained,” he added.

Director-general of police Neel Mani also confirmed the report of the abduction. He said all police stations in Jamui and Nawada districts have been put on alert and instructions issued to police officers concerned to trace the duo.

Sources said the Maoists called up newspaper offices at Jamui and confirmed the abduction of the duo. “The parents of the girl have already been informed about the incident,” a Maoist spokesperson said in Jamui. He said the duo were picked up this morning when they had gone to the deep forests near Chakai in Jamui district. He, however, refused to explain the reason behind Juhi’s abduction.