DHAKA, Aug 5 � Authorities in Bangladesh�s northwestern Rajshahi central jail have beefed up security for detained top ULFA leader Anup Chetia, who is likely to be handed over to India ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh�s visit here in September, reports PTI.
�Yes, we have intensified security vigil inside and around the prison...,� a jail official was quoted as saying by a media report today.
Chetia was also told about the government�s plans to hand him over to Indian authorities, mass circulated Samokal newspaper said.
�He (Chetia) came to know about the decision but he did not look perturbed,� it said, quoting jailer Faruq Hossain.
A senior Home Ministry official told PTI that despite the government�s plans to hand over Chetia to India, no date had been set yet for his return as the process would require some time for legal procedures and clearance from the court.
�We have seen earlier, the time needed for such process could range from one month to several months,� Home Ministry Joint Secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed said.
Home Minister Sahara Khatun earlier this week had said Dhaka was likely to soon hand over Chetia to India, which has long been seeking his repatriation for a long time.
�I don�t think there is any obstacle in handing him over to India ... But definitely there are procedures in extraditing someone who is in jail,� she had said, ahead of Prime Minister Singh�s visit here in September.
Chetia was arrested in Bangladesh in 1997 and is still under detention following completion of his jail term for cross-border intrusion.
�Chetia has expired his term in jail in Bangladesh ... still he is in jail,� Khatun had said.
