Anup Chetia likely to take part in ULFA peace talks with Indian govt

Separatist leader Anup Chetia is likely to take part in the peace talks between the Indian government and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) scheduled for Nov 24.

Chetia alias Golap Barua, a founder member and former general secretary of Assam’s secessionist group ULFA, was handed over to Indian authorities in Dhaka by the Bangladesh government early on Wednesday.
 
He was flown back to New Delhi in a special jet.
 
A senior official in the Union home ministry told bdnews24.com that Chetia, who has been escorted to India by a special CBI team, would be handed over to Assam police ‘very soon’.
 
“The CBI will take his custody for at least one or two days before sending him back to Assam after some medical tests,” a senior home ministry official disclosed.
 
The pro-talks faction of ULFA headed by its Chairman Aurobindo Rajkhowa had earlier put Chetia’s extradition from Bangladesh to India as a pre-condition for talks.
 
Rajkhaowa feels that Chetia’s participation in the talks is vital.
 
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said in Dhaka that Chetia had been handed over to Indian officials.
 
“He has returned to his country as he had wished. Having completed his jail term here, he has left as per his wishes,” Kamal said.
 
Commenting on the development, Indian State Minister for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, “This is a major breakthrough, it will lead to the cracking of many cases. We thank the prime minister and government of Bangladesh for finally heeding to our demand.”
 
In a separate development, Narendra Modi spoke to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier in the day.
 
The Indian prime minister greeted his Bangladesh counterpart on the occasion of Diwali and thanked her for her help in fighting terrorism.
 
Chetia is wanted in several cases in Assam including murder, abductions and extortion.
 
He had sought political asylum in Bangladesh three times in 2005, 2008 and 2011 after police arrested him in December 1997.
 
The ULFA leader was subsequently handed two seven-year jail terms for cross-border intrusion, carrying fake passports and illegally keeping foreign currency.
 
After the expiry of his term, Chetia was kept in jail owing to a 2003 High Court directive asking authorities to keep him in safe custody until his asylum plea had been decided on.
 
The extradition assumes significance as Indian Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi is coming to Dhaka for a two-day home secretary-level talks from Nov 16.
 
“Yes, the talks will take place on Nov 16 and 17,” the home ministry official said.
 
Sources say National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had played a crucial role in the extradition of Chetia.
 
Earlier, Doval had played a similar role in the deportation of Mumbai underworld don Chhota Rajan from Indonesia.