Abducted German Heinrich Wolfgang was on Wednesday released by his captors, after negotiations with representatives of some NGOs, in the Itham Moirangpurel area in Imphal East district, official sources said.

He is now lodged in a hotel in Imphal under the watchful eye of security guards.

Wolfgang came to Manipur to inspect the functioning of some NGOs.

He was abducted from the Maphou area in Thoubal district on March 23 by activists of the underground Kuki Liberation Army (KLA).

The KLA had demanded Rs one crore for his release, but it was not immediately known whether the ransom was paid to the ultras.

Earlier on Wednesday, women activists of various social organisations conducted a house-to-house search with the help of police commandos in the Langol area in Imphal to trace Wolfgang.

They also organised a protest rally in the area demanding the German's immediate release.

The Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), a major separatist organisation, had also in a statement insisted that Wolfgang be freed by his captors.