The four-day abduction drama of two employees of the city-headquartered PSU Mineral Exploration Company Limited (MECL) ended on Monday.
Both the employees, Gopal Mandal and Motilal Dey, were reported to have been rescued by the police.
A senior police official said the police had launched a rescue operation and the kidnapped persons were found near the hamlet Therak Basti near Nagaon. On seeing the police the kidnappers fled leaving the victims behind. They appeared to be in a healthy condition, added a cop.
The kidnapped duo were employed as drilling technicians in MECL, and were suspected to have been kidnapped by insurgents belonging to the Kabri Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF). Though no group had taken responsibility for the kidnappings, MECL officials said a ransom of Rs 50 lakh had been demanded. The victims are residents of West Bengal.
A police team was combing the locality at around 3.30pm, when the victims were found. Since the hamlet is at a height the insurgents could spot the police in advance, giving them a chance to flee, added the superintendent of police (Nagaon) Nitul Gogoi.
Meanwhile, a director of MECL camping in Nagaon also confirmed the development, adding that there was no other information except that the employees have been freed. The MECL official added that such kind of events will not deter the corporation from taking up further assignments in Assam.
KLNLF is a group active in this area of Assam and was formed in 2004. It is known for engaging in abduction for ransom to generate funds. The outfit is also reported to be generating substantial revenue from ginger-producing Kuki tribals and Hindi-speaking traders.