Imphal, Mar 11 (IANS); The three labourers, kidnapped by suspected tribal militants in Manipur on March 6, were set free, police said on Monday.

The labourers, identified as S. Bijoy, K. Gopen and K. Tenba, all hailing from the Thoubal district, said they had been kidnapped from the Senapati district. They were taking part in the repair work on the National Highway 2.

Members of the Naga People's Organisation (NPO) in the Senapati district found the labourers wandering in the mountain after they were released on Sunday midnight and provided them food and shelter before the three left for Imphal on Monday morning.

Solomon Arow, president of NPO, said: "We had been trying to secure release of these labourers. We are thankful to several organisations, including students, for demanding safe release of these labourers."

Police said in the past, militants used to kidnap labourers when there were inordinate delays in payment of protection money.

No complaint had been filed by the officials of M/s BIPL, which undertook the construction and repairing work in the national highway that passes through Manipur.