Four of them were, however, "released" after they were severely beaten up by the abductors.

Later, the police intervened and rescued and then arrested Satya Ranjan Giri, one of the remaining captive since he is wanted in a old criminal case.

Sekh Suffian, a local Trinamool Congress leader, however, alleged that case against Giri is a false one.

The Superintendent of Police of East Midnapore, SS Panda, confirmed that police rescued a Kanungochak resident and they are currently conducting an investigation into the matter.

He said that "small incidents" and clashes between the two rival camps are a regular feature in Nandigram, where 700 armed forces, including three companies of CRPF, are posted.

This comes a day after Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee had visited Nandigram and had alleged that CPM cadres were trying to establish their control over the villages with the active connivance of the local police prior to the panchayat polls in the state.

The local CPM leader, Asoke Bera, denied the allegations that his cadres were involved in the Wednesday night's abduction and instead said that "a group of people had tried to create disturbance in the village."