Patna: Lakhisarai police, with help from the police headquarters' special task force (STF) recovered the abducted insurance company agent, Mahendra Prasad Gupta, from Jamui district early on Saturday.

Unconfirmed reports said Mahendra's relatives paid Rs 12 lakh to the abductors after which six persons dropped him on the outskirts of Baluadih village. A police team that was tracking the abductors reached the spot and gave them chase but they managed to flee under cover of darkness, a source said.

But family members would not confirm this. Mahendra's younger brother Ravindra said: "Talk to the police officials for details. I will not comment on the issue of ransom. We are happy at his safe release."

Lakhisarai superintendent of police (SP) Arvind Thakur feigned ignorance about any ransom being paid. "I have no idea," the SP told The Telegraph over phone. "We have been working day and night to recover him. The release got delayed as the abductors were frequently changing their location. We will quiz him once his health improves."

He said the special investigation team, with help from Jamui police and the special task force, conducted a raid in Baluadih forest under the jurisdiction of Chandradip police station in Jamui district, around 38km southeast of Lakhisarai. After a three-and-a-half-hour operation, the abductors set the captive free and fled.

The police returned to the Jamui district headquarters with Mahendra and admitted him to the sadar hospital. His family members were then informed about his release.

The SP said the gang had been identified and the abductors would be brought to book at the earliest. "We will ensure they don't go scot free and are convicted for their crime," he said. He also thanked Bhagalpur inspector-general S.M. Khopde and acting Jamui SP Shafi-ul Haque for their cooperation in the operation.

Cheer returned at Mahendra's household where his mother and his wife had been praying for his safe recovery. Businessmen and residents had observed a bandh on Friday to exert pressure on the police. Armed criminals had abducted Mahendra, 38, from Kakrauli village while he was heading for his Pratappur residence in Lakhsarai district after collecting money from clients on his motorbike on November 3. The abductors had sought Rs 30 lakh as ransom from his family.