Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 (IANS): Odisha Police have launched a manhunt to nab a labour contractor and his four henchmen who allegedly chopped off the hands of two migrant workers two days ago, a police official said Tuesday.

The brutal crime took place on a roadside in Bolangir district Sunday night. However, it came to light after the victims rushed to the government hospital at Bhabanipatna in neighbouring Kalahandi disrtrict, about 420 km from Bhubaneswar, on their own the next day.

Police said a local labour contractor paid about Rs.14,000 in advance each to 12 workers from Jaipatna area of Kalahandi district about a fortnight ago for some labour work in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

But instead of taking them to the promised destination, the workers were being taken to Raipur to work at a brick kiln. The workers refused to work in Raipur and ten of the 12 workers fled, according to police.

Angry at the escape of the workers, the contractor and his henchmen allegedly tried to bring the remaining two workers in a vehicle to their respective homes in Kalahandi district to recover their money given in advance.

On their way, the contractor and his henchmen consumed liquor and chopped off the right hands of the two workers, police said.

The victims were identified as Nilambara Dhangda Majhi, 35, and Pialu Dhangada Majhi, 30.

District Superintendent of Police Sarthak Sarangi told IANS: "We have formed two teams and raided the houses of the suspects. Many of the workers have also not yet returned to their homes. Search is on to locate them."

Odisha's western districts of Kalahandi, Koraput and Bolangir are considered to be some of the economically most backward areas in the country. Every year, thousands of residents migrate in search of jobs.