ID :
155672
Sun, 01/02/2011 - 08:15
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https://oananews.org//node/155672
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Arabinda Rajkhowa released on bail, says ready for talks
Guwahati, Jan 1 (PTI) ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa
Saturday walked free from jail on bail and declared his
readiness for an "unconditional" peace dialogue with the Assam
Government, which hinted that the ban on the outfit may be
lifted ahead of the talks.
"We are committed to peace in Assam and take the peace
process forward. We are ready for unconditional peace talks,"
the 54-year-old militant leader told his supporters outside
the Gauhati Central Jail, where he was lodged for over a year.
He was released two days after a designated TADA court
ordered his release on bail.
Rajkhowa asked United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)
cadres not to create divisions in the ranks and appealed to
people not to be "restless" over the issue of peace talks.
He, however, appealed for the release of ULFA central
council members Sasha Choudhury and Chitraban Hazarika as well
to enable them to participate in a meeting to decide on the
peace talks.
He urged the authorities to take necessary measures
to facilitate (ULFA general secretary) Anup Chetia, now in a
Bangladesh jail, to participate in the ULFA Council meeting.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the
ban on the ULFA could be lifted, if necessary.
"The majority of ULFA leaders have come forward for
peace talks. Only one section has still remained opposed to
talks and is still indulging in violence."
Gogoi warned the anti-talks faction that operations
against them would not stop.
Rajkhowa was received at the jail premises by his
elder brother Dimbo Rajkhowa and other family members.
He will be attending several public receptions on way
to his home town Lakhuwa in upper Assam, which he will be
visiting after a gap pf 30 years. Rajkhowa, 54, went
underground after the formation of the ULFA on April 7, 1979.
Rajkhowa had been arrested after being handed over by
the Bangladesh authorities in November last year at the
Meghalaya border.
Rajkhowa is the senior-most ULFA leader to be released
after the earlier release of the outfit's self-styled
vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, deputy commander-in-chief Raju
Baruah, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and publicity
secretary Mithinga Daimary as also senior leader and political
ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain on bail. (MORE) PTI
Saturday walked free from jail on bail and declared his
readiness for an "unconditional" peace dialogue with the Assam
Government, which hinted that the ban on the outfit may be
lifted ahead of the talks.
"We are committed to peace in Assam and take the peace
process forward. We are ready for unconditional peace talks,"
the 54-year-old militant leader told his supporters outside
the Gauhati Central Jail, where he was lodged for over a year.
He was released two days after a designated TADA court
ordered his release on bail.
Rajkhowa asked United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)
cadres not to create divisions in the ranks and appealed to
people not to be "restless" over the issue of peace talks.
He, however, appealed for the release of ULFA central
council members Sasha Choudhury and Chitraban Hazarika as well
to enable them to participate in a meeting to decide on the
peace talks.
He urged the authorities to take necessary measures
to facilitate (ULFA general secretary) Anup Chetia, now in a
Bangladesh jail, to participate in the ULFA Council meeting.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the
ban on the ULFA could be lifted, if necessary.
"The majority of ULFA leaders have come forward for
peace talks. Only one section has still remained opposed to
talks and is still indulging in violence."
Gogoi warned the anti-talks faction that operations
against them would not stop.
Rajkhowa was received at the jail premises by his
elder brother Dimbo Rajkhowa and other family members.
He will be attending several public receptions on way
to his home town Lakhuwa in upper Assam, which he will be
visiting after a gap pf 30 years. Rajkhowa, 54, went
underground after the formation of the ULFA on April 7, 1979.
Rajkhowa had been arrested after being handed over by
the Bangladesh authorities in November last year at the
Meghalaya border.
Rajkhowa is the senior-most ULFA leader to be released
after the earlier release of the outfit's self-styled
vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, deputy commander-in-chief Raju
Baruah, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and publicity
secretary Mithinga Daimary as also senior leader and political
ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain on bail. (MORE) PTI
