Patna, Oct 2  Suspected Maoists have sent SMS messages to several journalists threatening to kill Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar if two of their top leaders were not released from jail.

The threat was sent to about half-a-dozen journalists, a police official said.

The SMS was in chaste Hindi, said one of those who received it early Friday and informed the police.

"Lal Salam - aapke CM ka jaan khatre mein hain, agar bachana chahte hain to hamare two neta - Ravi jee and Virendra jee ko release kardo (Salutations. Your chief minister is in danger. If you want to save him, you should release our two leaders, Ravi and Virendra)."

Late Thursday, suspected guerrillas shot dead 16 Bihar villagers, including five children, after raiding a village in Khagaria district. (IANS)