Silchar, Jan. 17: The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) last night set free the three hostages they had abducted from Cachar district last week. Police sources said the captives were released at noon from a hilltop hideout of the NCSN (K) in Jiribam subdivision of Manipur.
They took an autorickshaw and reached the subdivisional headquarters town of Jiribam on the Manipur-Assam border in the evening. Cachar police escorted them to their houses.
Though police could not confirm if any ransom was paid, sources said the relatives of each of the three hostages had paid Rs 50,000 for their release. A source said the militants released the captives as police had stepped up patrolling. in the rebel strongholds.
One of the hostages, Aloke Dhar, said the captives were treated shabbily by the militants and were even beaten up.