Bhubaneswar, Jan. 31: Two abducted employees of a private school in the Maoist-dominated Koraput district, about 500km from here, have been rescued, police said today.

The rescue act took place in a dense forest of the district last night, six days after the kidnapping took place on January 24.

Four persons, including a minor, have been detained in connection with the incident and two guns have been seized from them.

However, the main accused and some of his accomplices are still absconding.

Sources said school supervisor Sukant Satpathy and librarian Chinmay Parida of Kechla village at Lankaput panchayat in Koraput were kidnapped at gunpoint from the school premises by a gang of eight masked criminals, including three women.

The kidnappers had also taken with them the boarding school’s watchman. However, he was later released. Sources said the abductees were rescued from a forest following a sustained operation for which three various police teams were formed.

The incident was initially believed to be the handiwork of the Maoists since the criminals came in the guise of the rebels. But later, the police ruled out involvement of rebels.

Inspector general of police, south-western range, Yashwant Jethwa said they worked on several clues, including the phone calls of the accused, to arrest the culprits.

“They had tried to give it the colour of a Maoist operation. But actually, they are ordinary criminals,” he said, adding that the kidnappers had made a demand of Rs 50 lakh to release the staff members.

In another development, the police arrested two teachers of a school in Malkangiri district for alleged sexual misbehaviour with some girl students.

The arrests were made following complaints by the parents of the victims. The students of the school also took out a rally demanding action against the erring teachers who, however, have claimed innocence.