The third abducted ONGC employees is still under the captivity of ULFA-I militants who are hiding in Nagaland, informed Assam Police on Wednesday.

Special Director General of Police Gyanendra Pratap Singh claimed, “Search operations for the missing employee are still being carried out. The team is receiving regular updates from security agencies”.

“We have got specific information from Assam Rifles, the Army and Nagaland Police that Ritul Saikia is still in captivity of ULFA(I). They are hiding in Mon district,” Singh said.

“We will be able to rescue him very soon,” he added.

A statement issued by the ULFA-I read, “The security forces are silent on Ritul Saikia (the third ONGC employee). We, therefore, suspect that he may have fallen to their bullets or the security agencies are refraining from revealing his status for their own reasons”.

ULFA-I cadres on April 24 abducted three ONGC employees in an ambulance from Romonia workover RIG in the Lakuwa area of Sivasagar district in Upper Assam. Two of the employees were rescued.

Three persons involved in the kidnapping were arrested by the police, which include one Assam Police constable.

20 persons were taken into custody for involvement or links with the abduction.