The Bihar government has sought Nepal's help to trace two engineers, abducted a week ago, after intelligence reports said they might have been taken to the Himalayan kingdom.
The move comes after the government Thursday handed over to the Special Task Force (STF) the case of abduction of the two, both employees of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
NHPC general manager T. Mandal and chief engineer K. Singh were abducted last Friday from Vaishali district where both were engaged in overseeing the construction of rural roads.
STF chief V.K. Singh said tracing the two engineers was a big challenge. "It is not just a case of abduction or a normal criminal case. It is a big case connected with the development of the state," he said.
"If we fail in our duty, it will affect the state's development and no central agency officials will like to work here," he added.
A ransom of Rs.50 million (over $1 million) has been demanded for the release of each.
Bihar police teams have raided several places across the state and in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh to locate them but with no luck.
--Indo-Asian News Service