Bangladesh hands over top ULFA leader to India

NEW DELHI/DHAKA: Outlawed ULFA’s fugitive leader Golap Baruah alias Anup Chetia was on Wednesday handed over to India by Bangladesh, 18 years after his arrest — a move that is expected to give a push to peace talks in Assam.

According to a top official, Bangladesh Rifles handed over Chetia to the Border Security Force (BSF) at Dawki — a border trade centre between India and Bangladesh — in Meghalaya around 2am on Wednesday. He was later flown to New Delhi by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

India described this as a major breakthrough and said it would help the authorities crack several other major cases related to the outfit and its affiliates.

PM Narendra Modi spoke to Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina “and thanked her for the help in fighting terrorism”.

Union minister of state for home affairs, Kiren Rijiju, said: “It’s India’s team effort led by the prime minister... and as far as the handing over of Chetia is concerned, it will be decided by relevant agencies.”

Chetia is wanted by India to stand trial in various criminal cases of extortion, kidnapping, murder and attempt to murder.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal confirmed in Dhaka that Chetia has been handed over to India. “Chetia has been handed over to India legally after completing his prison term,” the Bangladesh home minister said.

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