A group of armed Maoists killed a villager but freed the remaining four of the five they abducted early in the day, police said Saturday.
The Maoists struck at Dhawatand village in Jamui district, about 200 km from Patna.
They kidnapped five after the villagers failed to trace a villager Pintu Koda, whom the guerrillas wanted, police said.
"Maoists shot dead Ajay Koda, a close aide of Pintu Koda, and freed others," a police officer said.
Maoists claimed that eight of their men were killed by police with the help of villagers, including Pintu Koda, in 2010.