Kohima, Aug. 2: Assam Rifles have busted an illegal detention centre allegedly set up by the NSCN (I-M) in Sitikibasa village near Dimapur and rescued two hostages.

A defence release today said on July 30, Assam Rifles received report of an "illegal detention centre" in Sitikibasa village. Troops of 32 Assam Rifles carried out the search in the suspected house and found two hostages bound in chains in the custody of NSCN (I-M) cadres, it said.

The duo were identified as Raju Choudhary, a resident of Khatkhati in Assam's Karbi Anglong and Nayan Bora, a resident of Bokaghat in Golaghat district.

Choudhary, who is the state president of an NGO, Anti-Corruption and Crime Investigation Front, with its office in Purana Bazar in Kohima, was abducted by NSCN (I-M) cadres on May 2. He said he was asked to pay Rs 20 lakh for his release. After his abduction, the NGO office was forcibly shut down by the outfit.

Bora said he arrived at Dimapur railway station on June 18 from Furkating to buy clothes for his brother's shop but was abducted from there by NSCN (I-M) cadres. He said he was beaten for a month and Rs 5 lakh ransom demand made to his family.

Six cadres were apprehended by Assam Rifles - Kuhoto Sema from Zunheboto, Angam Pamei from Tamenglong, Akum Yim and Lipisa Achumi, both from Kiphire, and Aleng Tangkhul and Ashim Valui from Ukhrul.

Many documents related to kidnapping/extortion were recovered, the release said. "This incident has once again brought to the fore the high-handedness and utter disregard to human values by the NSCN (I-M) and the running of a parallel judicial system by the outfit in garb of moral policing," it added.

The rescued duo said they saw around 40 people being beaten up and tortured and they were released only after payment of ransom.

The duo, arrested cadres along with the recovered items were handed over to Diphupar police station.