Timon Habi tea estate manager Numal Boruah, 55, who was abducted from his garden bungalow in Upper Assam’s Charaideo district on Tuesday night, remained untraced on Thursday.

Additional superintendent of police, Charaideo, Lamhao Doungel, told The Telegraph, “Based on leads gathered during investigation, we are carrying out operations at a few locations in Nagaland. So far, there are no reports of any ransom demand.”

The tea estate is jointly owned by Jorhat-based Pradeep Singhal and Guwahati-based L.N. Chowdhury.

The police suspect the role of Ulfa (Independent) in the kidnapping, the third within a fortnight in Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Apurba Kakoti, caretaker of a stone-crushing plant who was kidnapped from Jagun in Tinsukia district on Monday, also remains untraced despite continuous operations.

On Wednesday, Ulfa (I) leader Nayan Medhi had called Purna Borah, brother of the owner of stone-crushing plant, claiming that Kakoti was safe and in their custody.

Sources in the intelligence agencies said the recent kidnappings are directly proportionate to reported recruitment by Ulfa (I), which has been going through a financial crunch. “They need more money to meet expenses and train the recruits. Ulfa (I) might attempt more kidnappings,” a source said.