An abducted tea executive of Assam was set free by suspected Adivasi militants while the army gunned down a hardcore cadre of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom at Bordubi in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam on Thursday.

Suspected abductors from Assam Adivasi National Liberation Army on Thursday set free the kidnapped tea executive Anniruddha Tanti, from Hirajuli Tea Estate under Dhekiajuli police station in Sonitpur district.

Family members found the abducted tea executive near a roadside eatery in Udalguri town in the neighbouring Udalguri district of north Assam. He was an assistant manager of Hirajuli Tea Estate in Sonitpur district.

The tea executive, son of a senior state Congress leader and former legislator Bhimananda Tanti, was abducted on the night of July 31 while he was on his way back to his official residence from the tea garden factory.

The abductors reportedly demanded Rs 30 lakh as ransom for the safe release of the tea executive.

In a separate incident, army personnel gunned down a hardcore ULFA militant on Thursday morning in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam.

According to an army source, an ULFA militant was shot dead by the army after he had thrown a grenade on the vehicle, a patrol party of J&K Rifles inside Bordubi Tea Estate under Tinsukia police station at around 10.30 am on Thursday.

The grenade failed to explode much to the relief of the army personnel.

Other members of the group of militants fled.

The slain militant was identified as Jayanta Moran alias Kumud Bora (24) from Nalani village under Tinsukia district.