Imphal: Three persons, including the general manager of Agricultural Production Export Development Authority (APEDA) and deputy director of Manipur industry department who were kidnapped over a week ago, escaped on May 5 from the clutches of their abductors, official sources said.

The three, including a driver of the industry department, reported at Yairipok police station in interior Thoubal district, about 25 kms from Imphal, in the early hours, the sources said.

The abducted, Gupta and Nishikanta Singh, told reporters that they had struggled with their captors before they could free themselves about three days ago. They had then walked through unknown hill jungles till they reached Ingourok village in Thoubal district at around 3 am on May 5.

The village leaders on being told of their identity arranged vehicles for sending them to Yairipok police station, where they reported in the early hours, they said.

The APEDA general manager Prabin Gupta, deputy director of the industry department S Joykumar Singh and the driver Nishikanta Singh had been kidnapped from Pallel area in Chandel district on April 26.

Underground outfit Peoples United Liberation Front (PULF) had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping saying it was done to draw attention to the poor industrial development of the state.

Several organisations, including those of women, had been demanding freedom for the three without any conditions and a manhunt had been launched by the state police in the two districts to trace them.

PTI