ULFA chief Arabinda Rajkhowa released on bail

United Liberation Front of Asom chief Arabinda Rajkhowa was released from the Guwahati Central Jail, two days after his bail plea was granted by a designated TADA court.

Rajkhowa was received at the jail premises by his elder brother Dimbo Rajkhowa and other family members. He will be attending several public receptions on way to his home town Lakhuwa in upper Assam, which he will be visiting after a gap pf 30 years.

Rajkhowa, 54, went underground after the formation of the ULFA on April 7, 1979. He was granted bail by a designated TADA court on December 30 with the Assam government filing no objection to it. The court granted bail to Rajkhowa

in six TADA cases for his release.

The hearing for the bail plea was earlier deferred thrice this month with the court on Monday asking the home and political department to submit an affidavit on his lateststatus. Rajkhowa had been arrested after being handed over by the Bangladesh authorities in November last year at the Meghalaya border.

Rajkhowa is the senior-most ULFA leader to be released after the earlier release of the outfit's self-styled vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary as also senior leader and political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain on bail.