GUWAHATI, April 25 � Though the state level convention organized by prominent citizens called for release of the jailed leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to enable the outfit to hold its central committee meeting, official sources said that it would be difficult for the Government to do so without going through the judicial process. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah is shrouded in mystery as intelligence inputs indicate that he might have returned to Bangladesh recently.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the arrested leaders of the ULFA including the chairman of the outfit, Arabinda Rajkhowa are now in judicial custody and they will have to go through the judicial process to get bail. Sources said that it is unlikely on the part of the Government to grant general amnesty to the ULFA leaders till a settlement is arrived at. However, sources said that if the ULFA leaders in judicial custody apply for bail and the Government does not oppose it, they can come out on bail. Sources also pointed out that the Government did not oppose the bail applications of ULFA vice chairman Pradeep Gogoi and Publicity Secretary Mithinga Daimary, which facilitated their release on bail.
On the demand of the convention that both the Government and the ULFA should come forward for talks without any pre-condition, sources said that the Government of India is yet to change its position regarding talks. The Government of India is of the view that talks with any militant group must be held within the framework of the Constitution of India and the militant groups must shun violence to come for talks. The Government has made it clear that sovereignty is not negotiable and the stand is yet to be changed.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Indian security agencies are not very sure of the whereabouts of Paresh Baruah and recent intelligence inputs indicate that he might have come back to Bangladesh recently. Baruah left Bangladesh after he was named as one of the accused in the 2004 arms haul case, but it is believed that he has recently returned as his family members were in Bangladesh all along.
Sources pointed out that Baruah always maintained close links with a section of officers of the DGFI, the intelligence agency of Bangladesh and India still believes that the political leadership of Bangladesh, which is friendly with India, still does not have full control over all the government agencies.
Sources pointed out that though four central committee leaders of the ULFA were handed over to India before the last visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Delhi, most of the hardcore militants, who are operationally active, have not been handed over. Sources pointed out that the chairman of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB, Ranjan Daimary and a number of his followers are still in Bangladesh, while, several key leaders of the ULFA including Antu Chowdang and Drishti Rajkhowa are also staying in the neighbouring country.
GUWAHATI, April 25 � Though the state level convention organized by prominent citizens called for release of the jailed leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to enable the outfit to hold its central committee meeting, official sources said that it would be difficult for the Government to do so without going through the judicial process. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah is shrouded in mystery as intelligence inputs indicate that he might have returned to Bangladesh recently.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the arrested leaders of the ULFA including the chairman of the outfit, Arabinda Rajkhowa are now in judicial custody and they will have to go through the judicial process to get bail. Sources said that it is unlikely on the part of the Government to grant general amnesty to the ULFA leaders till a settlement is arrived at. However, sources said that if the ULFA leaders in judicial custody apply for bail and the Government does not oppose it, they can come out on bail. Sources also pointed out that the Government did not oppose the bail applications of ULFA vice chairman Pradeep Gogoi and Publicity Secretary Mithinga Daimary, which facilitated their release on bail.
On the demand of the convention that both the Government and the ULFA should come forward for talks without any pre-condition, sources said that the Government of India is yet to change its position regarding talks. The Government of India is of the view that talks with any militant group must be held within the framework of the Constitution of India and the militant groups must shun violence to come for talks. The Government has made it clear that sovereignty is not negotiable and the stand is yet to be changed.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Indian security agencies are not very sure of the whereabouts of Paresh Baruah and recent intelligence inputs indicate that he might have come back to Bangladesh recently. Baruah left Bangladesh after he was named as one of the accused in the 2004 arms haul case, but it is believed that he has recently returned as his family members were in Bangladesh all along.
Sources pointed out that Baruah always maintained close links with a section of officers of the DGFI, the intelligence agency of Bangladesh and India still believes that the political leadership of Bangladesh, which is friendly with India, still does not have full control over all the government agencies.
Sources pointed out that though four central committee leaders of the ULFA were handed over to India before the last visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Delhi, most of the hardcore militants, who are operationally active, have not been handed over. Sources pointed out that the chairman of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB, Ranjan Daimary and a number of his followers are still in Bangladesh, while, several key leaders of the ULFA including Antu Chowdang and Drishti Rajkhowa are also staying in the neighbouring country.
