Agartala, May 30 (IANS): A crackdown by Bangladesh security forces has forced a separatist outfit to release three farmers kidnapped 23 days ago from Tripura and taken across the border, police said here Wednesday.

"Militant of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) have released the three tribal farmers Tuesday night at Bhagirath Para along the India-Bangladesh border in northern Tripura. The farmers reached a nearby camp of Tripura State Rifles," a police spokesman told reporters.

Four tribal farmers were kidnapped by heavily-armed militants of the banned NLFT May 7 while they were working in their field at Gandachara, around 185 km from here. One of the farmers had escaped the day he was kidnapped.

The militants had taken the hostages to Bangladesh through the unfenced border.

Following a request by the Tripura Police, the Border Security Force (BSF) had asked their counterparts in Bangladesh to rescue the captives.

The NLFT and the All Tripura Tiger Force, both banned by India, have set up their bases in Bangladesh. They have been demanding secession of Tripura from India.

Tripura shares around 850 km of the border with Bangladesh.