Gogoi in Delhi, wants ULFA men freed

The CM will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Advisor M K Narayan tomorrow morning to discuss this, sources said.

In response to New Delhi’s invitation to hold talks, the ULFA Commander-in-Chief, Paresh Barua, had demanded that the arrested members be released unconditionally. He said that they were unable to discuss New Delhi’s offer at the Central Council, as three of the key members were in the state’s custody.

They are Vice President Pradip Gagoi, publicity chief Mithinga Daimary and Cultural Secretary Pranati Deka.

It is understood that Gogoi is likely to take the plea before the PMO that chances of the ULFA accepting the Centre’s invitation increase considerably if they are allowed to be present at the Central Committee discussions.

Though the Union Home Ministry has been completely kept out of the loop, officials said the state can either drop charges against them, which will automatically lead to their release, or consider not opposing their bail plea.

But while Gogoi is strongly advocating the release, security agencies have informed the Union Home Ministry of the growing nexus between the ULFA cadres and Bangladeshi underworld.

The Border Security Force (BSF) had reported last year that ULFA cadres are providing protection and extorting money on behalf of Liaquat gang in Dhanmandi — the commercial hub — in Dakha. The report also talked about ULFA cadres being killed in a gang war between two rival underworld groups in Dhaka.

Other internal security agencies have reported that ULFA is acting as an arms supplier for other terrorist groups in the north-east.

Gogoi’s move seeking the release of ULFA terrorists is understood to be partly linked to the fact that Assam would go the polls next year.

If the CM is successful in establishing direct contact with the ULFA and manages to convince them to come to the negotiation table, it would no doubt go in his favour.