GUWAHATI, July 27 � A tug-of-war is going on between the pro-talk and hardline factions of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on the issue of bringing back ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia to India and involving him in the peace process.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that extradition of Chetia from Bangladesh is now almost sure and only some official formalities are to be completed before he can be brought back to India. As Chetia himself has expressed his desire to come to India, it is obvious that he would like to involve himself in the peace process, sources pointed out.
However, the issue of Chetia�s extradition from Bangladesh has created a major point of difference between the pro-talk and anti-talk factions of the ULFA. The pro-talk group has been putting pressure on the Government of India to bring back Chetia as soon as possible so that he can be involved in the peace process. The Government is also in favour of involving Chetia in the peace process as it is believed that the ULFA general secretary�s participation would give more weightage to the talks and there is every possibility of more members from the hardline faction joining the process.
On the other hand, the hardline faction is totally against Chetia�s extradition and security sources said that Paresh Baruah, the commander in chief of the ULFA (Independent) had tried his best to stop the process of Chetia�s extradition from Bangladesh.
Sources said that from the interception of the messages of the ULFA(I) leaders, it was clear that Paresh Baruah was worried about Chetia�s extradition from Bangladesh and his possible involvement in the peace process. It may be mentioned here that both Chetia and Baruah were very close for years and it is believed that it was Chetia who brought Baruah to the ULFA.
According to information available with the security agencies, the families of Baruah and Chetia are living together in Bangladesh and �we have definite information that Baruah has been helping Chetia�s family since 1997,� sources added.
