The Jharkhand Police and security forces on Friday rescued four policemen who were abducted allegedly by Pathalgadi supporters on Tuesday from Ghagra village, reported ANI. The policemen were reportedly kept in a school in Butigada village, about 20 kilometres from Khunti district.

Earlier, it was reported that three policemen were taken hostage. “The three have returned safely,” Additional Director General of Police (Operations) RK Mallick said, according to The Indian Express. “A fourth jawan was also kidnapped. He too has returned safely.”

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Mallick said there had been no information about the fourth jawan going missing as he was believed to have been on leave. “We are inquiring further and police presence in various areas of Khunti is being maintained,” he said.

Subodh Kujur, Vinod Kerketta and Suyon Sureen were guarding the house of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kariya Munda in Ghagra village when they were abducted on Tuesday, hours after a raid on Udbhuru village to arrest two men accused of kidnapping and raping five women working with a non-governmental organisation on June 19.

On Wednesday, forces from Bokaro, Simdega, Chaibasa and other districts were brought in along with companies of Rapid Action Force and Sashastra Seema Bal companies began search operations in Ghagra village. A villager was killed during the search operation.

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South Chhotanagpur Inspector General of Police Naveen Kumar Singh had said that the abduction of the policemen seemed like an attempt at a trade-off.

The Khunti administration had on Thursday announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information on the whereabouts of the three policemen.

A group of men allegedly raped five women working with a non-governmental organisation in Jharkhand on June 19. The women had gone to Chochang village to spread awareness on migration and human trafficking when the incident took place. The Jharkhand Police on June 23 arrested two people in connection with the case.