Eleven persons who had gone missing from a village in Sukma District of Chhattisgarh a couple of days ago, were abducted by cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) and released on July 20, reports Hindustan Times. Police, on July 21, said, the villagers were allegedly warned against supporting Police and developmental works by the rebels. “After the intervention and pressure of the media and local tribal leaders, the Maoists released the villagers who had reached their village Kunded, on Tuesday [July 20] night. All of them are safe,” Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bastar range, Sundarraj P said. According to IGP, Sundarraj, seven persons had initially gone missing after attending a social gathering on July 18. A day later, four others, including a village head, had reportedly gone to hold talks with the rebels on the abduction but did not return. The IGP added that the statement of the 11 villagers will be recorded to ascertain the reason behind their abduction. However, according to people familiar with the matter, said, the rebels suspected the seven villagers had appeared for a Police recruitment test, and hence, may have taken them into captivity.