An official of State Bank of India (SBI) kidnapped by Liberation Achik Elite Force (LAEF) rebels was released unharmed after 13 days in captivity, police said.

Abdul Halim , a cashier of SBI Songsak branch was abducted June 23 by five heavily armed LAEF rebels from Songsak-Mendipathar road, about 300 km from Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya.

“All that I know is that he has been released but I don’t have the full details as yet,” Tennyson Dkhar, the intelligence chief of Meghalaya Police, said.

However, intelligence official said Halim was released unharmed at Darugre area in East Garo Hills district near Rongjeng police station Wednesday morning after negotiating on the ransom amount. “They released him after family members of the hostage paid a ranson amount of Rs. 5 lakh to LAEF,” the intelligence official said.

LAEF, one of the five Garo rebel groups operating in the western part of Meghalaya, had demanded a ransom of Rs. 10 lakh for the safe release of Halim. The tribal Garo outfit is fighting for an independent, separate Achik state.