Malda, Feb. 8: Two abducted residents of Assam were rescued from Malda district after police from the neighbouring state tracked down the kidnappers last night.

While Mazarul Sheikh, 45, was picked up from Dhangara in Chanchal, Asraful Sheikh, 35, was caught from Alinagar in Gajole, 30km away.

Sub-inspector of Assam’s Dhubri police station Zafar Ali, who led the team, said Mazarul and his gang had abducted Zahedur Islam from Dhubri three months ago. He had kept the 27-year-old confined to his house and demanded a ransom of Rs 4 lakh.

Sadeq Ali, 25, another youth from Dhubri, had come to rescue Zahedur after paying Rs 50,000 to the abductors on January 8. But instead of releasing Zahedur, Mazarul had also confined Sadeq to his house, the police said.

The Dhubri police, who began a probe on the basis of a complaint lodged by the family members of Zahedur and Sadeq on January 10, had traced the kidnappers by tracking their calls from mobile phones.

The Assam police team arrived in Malda two days ago. “They had sought our help and we helped them reach the spots. The kidnapped duo were rescued from Mazarul’s house,” said Nima Narboo Bhutia, the subdivisional police officer of Chanchal.

The Assam police officer said they were looking for Mazarul’s wife, Sahida Sehnaz, who has fled. The woman had made the ransom call from her cellphone.

Mazarul, who deals in cattle, told the police that he was supposed to get Rs 4 lakh from Zahedur and Sadeq who are also in the same business. He confessed during interrogation that he had abducted them to realise the money.

Dhubri district police chief Deepak Choudhury said he was not aware whether the two were involved in cattle smuggling. “The picture will become clear once the arrested duo are brought back to Dhubri.”