Chetia backs anti-talks faction
Vishwa Mohan \ TNN
New Delhi: A key jailed Ulfa leader, Anup Chetia, who had expressed his desire to join the ongoing peace process, has sprung a surprise.
Chetia has taken the side of the anti-talks faction — led by the outfit’s elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah — and decided not to withdraw his ‘political asylum’ plea from a Bangladesh court that is mandatory for his deportation.
Chetia’s move is being seen here as a setback to India’s effort to get him deported and make him part of the peace process. He was arrested in Bangladesh in 1997 for forging travel documents.
Though the Ulfa leader had served his jail sentence for the offence long ago, he had been under detention there pending his plea for ‘political asylum’ in a Bangladesh court. His deportation — according to law in the neighbouring country — is not possible unless he withdraws his plea.
Government sources said though efforts were being made at different levels, including involving Bangladeshi authorities, for Chetia’s deportation, the Ulfa leader’s change of mind had, of late, hindered the process. He was supposed to withdraw his plea for ‘political
asylum’ even before the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka early last month, but he had kept on delaying it to thwart his deportation, they added.
“Pro-talk faction led by Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa had even sent missives to him several times for joining the peace process in India. But Chetia is now learnt to be more inclined to Baruah, who has not only been against the talks but also against any kind of cease fire with security forces in Assam,” said an official.
He, however, said efforts were still on to get Chetia back to India, despite these setbacks.......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMS8xMC8xMSNBcjAxMjAy&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan \ TNN
New Delhi: A key jailed Ulfa leader, Anup Chetia, who had expressed his desire to join the ongoing peace process, has sprung a surprise.
Chetia has taken the side of the anti-talks faction — led by the outfit’s elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah — and decided not to withdraw his ‘political asylum’ plea from a Bangladesh court that is mandatory for his deportation.
Chetia’s move is being seen here as a setback to India’s effort to get him deported and make him part of the peace process. He was arrested in Bangladesh in 1997 for forging travel documents.
Though the Ulfa leader had served his jail sentence for the offence long ago, he had been under detention there pending his plea for ‘political asylum’ in a Bangladesh court. His deportation — according to law in the neighbouring country — is not possible unless he withdraws his plea.
Government sources said though efforts were being made at different levels, including involving Bangladeshi authorities, for Chetia’s deportation, the Ulfa leader’s change of mind had, of late, hindered the process. He was supposed to withdraw his plea for ‘political
asylum’ even before the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka early last month, but he had kept on delaying it to thwart his deportation, they added.
“Pro-talk faction led by Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa had even sent missives to him several times for joining the peace process in India. But Chetia is now learnt to be more inclined to Baruah, who has not only been against the talks but also against any kind of cease fire with security forces in Assam,” said an official.
He, however, said efforts were still on to get Chetia back to India, despite these setbacks.......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS00vMjAxMS8xMC8xMSNBcjAxMjAy&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
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