ULFA seeks Chetia's freedom to go ahead with talks

December 18, 2010 01:38 IST

Even as he is set to be released on bail in a few days time, United Liberation Front of Assam chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has called upon India and Bangladesh to take steps to set free the outfit's general secretary, Anup Chetia from jail in Bangladesh so that he can take part in the peace process.

After undergoing a routine medical check up at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, Rajkhowa told media person, "The overall situation is now conducive for talks and we appeal to both India and Bangladesh to facilitate the participation of Chetia in the talks by releasing him from captivity."

According to security sources, Chetia is under 'protective custody' of authorities in the neighbouring country.

He was arrested in Dhaka in 1997

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for illegally entering the country and for carrying foreign currency and a satellite phone.

New Delhi has been requesting Dhaka to hand him over since almost the past decade.

Rajkhowa's statement indicates that the talks between the banned militant outfit and the government of India is on even though the fugitive military supremo (commander in chief) of the outfit Paresh Barua has remained unmoved on his stand opposing the peace process.

Barua wants ULFA's demand for sovereignty of Assam to be made the core agenda for the peace talks.

After returning from the medical check-up in hospital, the ULFA chairman on Friday held parleys with the Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar in jail on the proposed peace talks.

Anurag Kashyap in Guwahati

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United Liberation Front of Assam Arabinda Rajkhowa Anup Chetia Paresh Barua Guwahati Medical College Hospital