Patna, Sep 6 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Monday said a joint appeal by political parties as well as public pressure helped secure the release of the three policemen who were abducted by Maoists over a week ago.

'I'm grateful to all political parties for making a joint appeal to the Maoists to get the three policemen freed,' Nitish Kumar told reporters here.

Public pressure also helped, he said.

Police said Maoist guerrillas released the three abducted Bihar cops - Ehsan Khan, Abhay Kumar Yadav and Rupesh Kumar Sinha - in Lakhisarai district Monday ending an eight-day hostage crisis.