No casualty was reported as a result of the gun battle that took place 3-4km west of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) camp at Yangrai and lasted for more than an hour, but the law enforcers said they arrested a kidnapper during the operation.

Suman, who was abducted on June 25 along with his driver, could not be rescued after 250 hours of combing operations in the rugged terrains of the hilly regions.

Danida driver Md Hanif was rescued unconscious some 40km away from Kya Buri Para in Thanchi where Danida Programme Officer Shahid Suman and he had been kidnapped.

The authorities meanwhile sent more commando troops and supplies to the spot by helicopter as the forces claimed to have encircled the kidnappers.

Sources said the law enforces yesterday surrounded the Rang Rang hill between the BDR camps at Yangrai and Chhoto Modok. The kidnappers suddenly started shooting at them in the morning without any provocation.

The two groups exchanged more than 200 rounds of bullet.

At one stage the kidnappers retreated and the law enforcers arrested one Mong Mong Chho.

Meanwhile, three NGO officials who were detained in connection with Suman's abduction were released Thursday afternoon after 10 days' interrogation at the BDR zonal headquarters at Balipara.

The officials are Danida Senior Programming Officer Kirti Nishan Chakma, Eco Development Executive Director Ong Sa Thui Marma and NGO worker Ong Gaw Marma.

After his release, Kirti Nishan Chakma went to the Bandarban Tourism Motel to meet the first secretary of the Danish Embassy and a Danish detective.

Neither Chakma nor the Danish officials, however, spoke to the media.

Security forces are still maintaining massive rescue operations to rescue the Danida official. Even the locals have joined the rescue operations as part of a new rescue strategy, said government sources.