Ulfa leaders meet on Chetia

A meeting of the central committee members of the Arabinda Rajkhowa faction of Ulfa was held today at a private lodge in Dispur.

Issues related to extradition of the outfit’s “general secretary” Anup Chetia from Bangladesh and the faction’s next round of talks with the Centre was discussed at today’s meeting.

Apart from Rajkhowa, senior leaders such as Ulfa vice-chairman Pradeep Gogoi, foreign secretary Sasadhar Choudhury, publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, cultural secretary Pranati Deka, among others, were present at the meeting.

Gogoi said the issue of Chetia’s extradition following last month’s signing of an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh, was discussed at the meeting.

“We believe that signing of the extradition treaty will expedite the process of Chetia’s extradition, which will give a new momentum to our ongoing talks with the Centre,” he said.

Gogoi said they are hopeful that Chetia will withdraw his appeal for asylum in Bangladesh, which is currently pending with the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and the Centre, and will take the necessary steps to bring him to India so that he can take part in the peace talks.

CCITNO urges Dispur not to allow migrants to settle

The Coordination Committee of Indigenous Tribal National Organisation today accused Dispur of making an attempt to settle illegal migrants in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) in the name of rehabilitation of riot victims.

The allegation has assumed significance in view of tomorrow’s meeting of the group of ministers in Dispur to review the status of the process of rehabilitation of riot victims.

The committee members today met Prithibi Majhi, the chairman of the cabinet committee on rehabilitation of riot victims in the BTAD, and submitted a memorandum to him demanding that the government must not allow settlement of illegal migrants under any circumstances.