• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Top Indian separatist guerrilla leader arrested in Bangladesh

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Guwahati, India, Dec 3, IRNA -- A top Indian separatist guerrilla leader was arrested in Bangladesh and handed over to Indian authorities, brightening hopes for an end to three decades of violent insurrection in the northeastern state of Assam, officials Thursday said.

An intelligence official said chairman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Arabinda Rajkhowa, was arrested in Bangladesh and later handed over to Indian authorities.

“I cannot say how the breakthrough has happened, but all I can say is that a breakthrough has happened and maybe within the next few days or next few hours you would know the whereabouts of Arabinda Rajkhowa,” Assam chief minister told journalists in the state’s main city of Guwahati.

There were reports in the local media Wednesday quoting unnamed Assam government sources that the separatist leader was handed over to Indian authorities by Bangladesh, although there were sketchy details about where and when the arrest was made.

“We are hopeful to get some good news very soon and the developments (about the ULFA leader) are moving in the right direction. The signals are encouraging,” the chief minister said.

The ULFA, one of the most influential rebel armies in the northeast among 30-odd militant groups active in the region, is fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979 with the three-decade long insurgency killing more than 10,000 people in the state.

“It is true Rajkhowa and many other ULFA leaders have for long been taking shelter in Bangladesh ,” the chief minister said.

Last month, Bangladesh handed over two top ULFA leaders – self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury and self-styled finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika – to Indian authorities after they were picked up from a rented accommodation in Dhaka.

The duo is now in police custody.

The government is now contemplating providing ‘safe passage’ to the 53-year-old ULFA founder instead of showing him as arrested to buy peace.
“If he wants safe passage, we are ready to give. All these issues can be discussed and worked out,” the chief minister said.

“All I can say is that the ULFA can discuss anything, all issues, except their demand of sovereignty, when they hold peace talks with the government,” Gogoi said.

Rajkhowa was served red corner notice and is sought by the Interpol since 1997 for a range of crimes, including murder, extortions, and kidnappings.
“The maximum possible penalty is death sentence,” the Assam police website says about the ULFA chairman who figures among one of India’s most wanted fugitives.

But the reported arrest of Rajkhowa has already evoked positive reactions.

“We hope Arabinda Rajkhowa would now take the lead in pushing the peace process forward. We are with him if he takes the initiative to engage in peace talks with the government,” Mrinal Hazarika, leader of the pro-talk ULFA faction, said.

Hazarika, along with about 150 rebels of the Alpha and Charlie companies of ULFA’s 28th battalion, declared a unilateral ceasefire in July last year.
The Alpha and Charlie companies were the two most potent striking units of the ULFA.