Ranchi, Jan 22 (IANS): In a shocking incident, seven people who were allegedly abducted by Patthalgari supporters in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district are believed to have been killed.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has termed the incident as unfortunate. "I am pained over such incident. Law is above everyone. The accused will not be spared. We will review with officials so that such incidents are not repeated in future," said the Chief Minister in his tweet.

On Sunday, a meeting was convened by Patthalgari supporters at Burugulikela village. James Bhud, Deputy Pramukh of Gulikela Panchayat opposed the Patthalgari supporters. He was allegedly abducted along with six people on Sunday. When they did not return on Monday the family members lodged a complaint with the police, suspecting the worst. On Tuesday, news spread that they have been killed.

Police, who launched a search operation on Tuesday, have failed to recover a single body so far.

Senior police officials are camping in the area and search operation is still going on.

Patthalgari is a tribal custom in which stone is fixed at certain place to demarcate the boundary. The Patthalgari was used to protest the amendment in two land Acts, brought by the BJP government in 2016. The stone was used as a mark of protest to write slogans against the government's polices. Hundreds of people were booked for supporting Patthalgari against the government. Even sedition charges were slapped and many arrested.

Hemant Soren in its first cabinet meeting withdrew the cases related to Patthalgari.