According to The Indian Express, the rebels killed one hostage, allowing the rest to return to their homes. The insurgents' victim was killed for participating in a government project, something Maoists do not allow.
On Saturday, media reports emerged that the rebels had kidnapped around 250-300 people some 70 kilometers (44 miles) from Dantewada region, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered an address later in the day. The hostages were planning to attend Modi's rally, according to the local media.
Central India's Dantewada has been particularly affected by the Maoist violence, according to the local media.
The Maoists, widely known as the Naxalites or the Naxals, have been fighting the Indian government since the 1960s.
According to the Global Research, about 10,000 people have been killed in the Naxalite insurgency in India since 1980.
