Assam Police to get Chetia custody, likely to be released on bail soon

Once he is released, the government hopes to use him to bolster the pro-talks faction of ULFA and help conclude the peace process with the outfit.

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The government’s interlocutor for peace talks with ULFA, P C Haldar, has already pushed for a “calibrated approach” towards Chetia in a communication sent to the home ministry. Calling Chetia’s handover to India a big achievement and a boost to talks, Haldar has called for persuading Chetia to join the peace process and use him to “isolate” Myanmar-based Paresh Baruah, chief of ULFA’s anti-talks faction. Chetia is known to be close to Baruah.

Haldar’s communication also mentions developments that led to Chetia’s repatriation to India, in an atmosphere where he can join the talks. It mentions his withdrawal of asylum request and the return of his wife and children to Jeraigaon in Assam’s Dibrugarh district in May 2014. Chetia’s family had been living in Bangladesh following his arrest in that country in 1997.

“Chetia’s coming home is a big boost to ULFA peace talks. There are indications of him being willing to join the peace process. Being the founder member of the outfit, his inclusion in the peace process gives legitimacy to the effort and marginalises Baruah. It will have an impact on even those who have chosen to side with Baruah and there may be defections in his camp,” said a home ministry official.

Arabinda Rajkhowa, the current ULFA chairman, was arrested in a similar fashion after his surrender to Indian intelligence agencies and later released on bail. Rajkhowa was arrested in November 2010 and released on bail from Guwahati Central Jail on January 1, 2011. He was granted bail by a special TADA court after the government prosecutor did not object to his bail application. He soon agreed to join the peace talks with the government without any conditions.