PATNA, India, Sept 6, 2010 (AFP) - Maoist rebels in eastern India on Monday released a trio of policemen they were holding hostage, three days after the guerrillas killed another abducted officer, officials said.

The four men were taken captive in the state of Bihar on August 29 during a Maoist raid on security forces that left 10 policemen dead.

"I can confirm the release of the three abducted policemen early this morning," additional director general of Bihar police P.K. Thakur told AFP. The Maoists had threatened to kill all of the officers unless jailed rebels were freed and security forces were withdrawn from areas in the state controlled by the guerrillas.

The body of the dead policeman was found on Friday in a remote forested district 150 kilometres (100 miles) from the Bihar state capital of Patna. Authorities in New Delhi launched a major offensive last year to tackle the worsening insurgency, but since then the Maoists have hit back with repeated attacks on the police and paramilitary forces.