Patna, May 14: Suspected Maoists abducted four farmers from Pararya village under Chutiya police station in Naxalite-affected Rohtas district late on Friday night.

A complaint has been lodged with the Chutia police in this connection on Saturday.

Over 20 armed squad members of CPI (Maoist) swooped on the village around midnight and held four farmers captive at gunpoint. Later, they left for an unknown destination.

The victims have been identified as Vibhishan Tiwari, Jaidurak Tiwari, Dhiraj Tiwari and Rajgrih Mishra. Three of the abducted persons are said to be sons of one Tarkeshwar Tiwari.

When the police visited the village to enquire about the incident, the family members said the rebels moved towards Kaimur hills with the four men.

Station house officer (SHO) of Chutiya police station N.K. Mishra said raids were on to rescue the farmers.

“Prima facie, it appears that the farmers were abducted as a result of a dispute over a plot of land,” the SHO said, adding that three of them belonged to the same family.

Earlier, three persons identified as Amit Chaube, Phulendra Chaube and Suresh Sah were abducted by the armed guerillas from Barcha village under Nauhatta police station of the district a fortnight ago. They were later released.

Sources said the victims had defied the Maoist diktat to appear at the kangaroo court held to settle a land dispute issue.

Prior to this, the Maoists had abducted three persons from Parth village under Rohtas police station a fortnight ago, because even they had defied the diktat of the red rebels.