19 ULFA commanders have come for talks: chief minister
September 27th, 2010 - 8:10 pm ICT by IANSGuwahati, Sep 27 (IANS) Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Monday said 19 commanders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) came on their own from Bangladesh to join the peace process and are now sheltered at an unidentified location in the state.
“They are very much in Assam and are not arrested as they came on their own from Bangladesh to join the peace process,” the chief minister told journalists here.
The rebel commanders, led by Anu Buragohain, Bhaiti Baruah, Biju Deka, and Pradyut Buragohain, gave themselves up before Bangladeshi authorities Wednesday. They were arrested on technical grounds and then handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) somewhere along the border with Meghalaya Saturday.
“I cannot tell you the exact number, but the number of ULFA leaders that came from Bangladesh could be even more then what was earlier believed,” Gogoi said.
Earlier reports said 19 ULFA leaders and nine of their family members arrived in Assam Saturday and were in the Assam Police custody.
“This is a very good sign that more and more ULFA leaders are realising the futility of an armed struggle and deciding to come and join the peace process,” the chief minister said.
Self-styled ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah termed the development as a betrayal by some of the senior leaders.
“Some of our cadres with their family members fled the camp with the help of Indian intelligence agencies and also with the active support of two of our senior jailed leaders and are now taking shelter in the enemy camp,” the ULFA commander-in-chief said in an e-mailed statement.
“We are not at all demoralised by their action,” he added.
Apolice official said: “There is no question of the ULFA members being produced before the court as technically they were not arrested as they came on their own.”
Dhaka last year launched a massive crackdown against the ULFA and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and got several of their top leaders arrested and later handed them over to India.
Among those arrested in last year’s crackdown include ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, and finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika.
NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary was also arrested in May and later handed over to India.
- 19 ULFA rebels in Assam Police custody - Sep 25, 2010
- Split in ULFA ranks as 19 commanders opt for peace - Sep 25, 2010
- 20 ULFA militants arrested in fresh Dhaka crackdown - Sep 24, 2010
- Talks with ULFA soon, says Tarun Gogoi - Sep 29, 2010
- ULFA's 'Mama' released on bail, fifth to be set free - Dec 05, 2010
- ULFA leaders in Bangladesh, Myanmar to surrender: Pillai (Interview) - Jun 06, 2010
- Assam allows ULFA chief's bail plea, facilitates peace talks - Dec 16, 2010
- Assam CM Gogoi invites ULFA chief to join politics - Dec 30, 2010
- Bangladesh crackdown puts pressure on ULFA chief - Dec 27, 2010
- ULFA chief Rajkhowa released from jail - Jan 01, 2011
- Assam CM Gogoi hopes for peace on ULFA front after Rajkhowa's release - Jan 01, 2011
- Talks with ULFA, but not with Bodo outfit: Pillai (Lead) - Jun 04, 2010
- Peace process with ULFA on right track: Gogoi - Jul 11, 2010
- New videos released by Baruah creates confusion over ULFA peace process - Jan 28, 2011
- Assam government to hold talks with ULFA - May 26, 2010
Tags: assam police, baruah, biju, border security force, cadres, chief minister, deka, enemy camp, exact number, futility, gogoi, intelligence agencies, massive crackdown, meghalaya, national democratic front, paresh, peace process, police custody, rebel commanders, united liberation front