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Chetia won�t be freed: Union Home Minister

By Raju Das

SHILLONG, Dec 5 - Union Home Ministry today made it clear that jailed ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia has to go through the legal process and would not be released under a general amnesty.

Minister of State for Home Affairs, Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhury said here that action would be taken against Chetia as per the law.

After his deportation to India from Bangladesh on November 11, Chetia was remanded to CBI custody related to a 1998 murder case. However, pro-talks faction of the ULFA wants Chetia to be released so that he too could be part of the peace talks.

�Nobody can escape the law, Chetia has to go through the legal process,� Chaudhury said when asked if the Government would let him go. Chetia was arrested in 1991, but then Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia released him from jail after which he fled India.

He tried to illegally enter Bangladesh in 1997 and was nabbed there with forged passport, arms and currency. Chetia spent the next 18 years in Bangladesh�s prison.

Meanwhile, Chaudhury said, the Central Government is aware of the threat posed by the ISIS and adequate safety measures are being taken.

He said, the ISIS�s threat in the region is not being taken lightly and all States and the personnel at the international border have been asked to be alert.

On revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the region, the Union Minister stated that the Act would remain wherever necessary to maintain law and order. �The Act would not be revoked at this moment,� he stated.

Earlier, Chaudhury reviewed the 41st passing out parade of North East Police Academy at Barapani and said police forces of the region has to be extra vigilant due to the presence of militants here.

Noting that policing has become more challenging, he said due to changed life-style and advances in technology crimes have become more complex. He therefore urged the police force to use technology to be one step ahead of criminals.

Altogether 230 trainees, including 16 women, from Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh passed out of the Academy.

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