Ulfa leader Chetia brought to Guwahti; produced in court

Chetia was incarcerated in Bangladesh for 18 years and handed over to India on November 11

Deported ULFA leader Anup Chetia was brought here today by the CBI on a transit remand and produced before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate amid tight security.

Chetia, who was incarcerated in Bangladesh for 18 years and handed over to India on November 11, was brought here in a special aircraft and whisked away through the cargo gate of LGB Airport here in a convoy with his vehicle led by two escort vehicles and several police vehicles behind it.

48-year-old Chetia with his face covered, was taken directly from the airport to the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, Kamrup, a senior police official said.

His vehicle was taken inside the court's compound keeping him away from waiting journalists and the huge crowd waiting to see the insurgent leader

Chetia's lawyer Bijan Mahajan told waiting journalists at the court that they would apply for bail for his client.

His family members and colleagues participating in the peace talks with the government waiting at the airport, were not allowed to meet Chetia.

The police official said it was not very clear whether Chetia was brought directly from Delhi where he was arrested by CBI after being handed over to India or from Kolkata.

Chetia's wife Monika Baruah, ULFA 'foreign secretary' Sasa Choudhury, and other pro-peace talk ULFA leaders were present in the Court premises but they were not allowed to meet him as he was whisked inside the Court.

Heavy police bandobast was made and barricades erected around the court in order to thwart attempts by people from going near Chetia or raising pro-ULFA slogans as they did when ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa was produced in the court in 2009.

Chetia, who was in Bangladesh since his arrest by the country's police in 1997, was handed over to India on November 11 following which he was arrested by CBI in Delhi.

Anup Chetia, whose real name is Golap Baruah, is the founding member of ULFA and its general secretary. He is also known as Sunil Baruah, Bhaijan and Ahmed.

Born in Jerai Gaon in Tinsukia district of Assam, Chetia is among the state's most wanted criminals.

Wanted for murder, abductions and extortion in India, Chetia was arrested in March 1991 and following his release from jail had fled from the country to be arrested by Bangladesh police in December 1997. He was jailed for seven years on charges of cross-border intrusion, carrying fake passports and illegally keeping foreign currencies.

Chetia continued to remain in jail after his seven year term as there was no extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh at that time.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had said, "The ULFA leader's extradition to India would have a positive impact on the ongoing Government and pro-talk ULFA peace process."

In a statement here following Chetia's extradition Gogoi had said, "We believe Anup Chetia will play an important role in the ongoing peace talks between the Government and the pro-talk ULFA."

He had also said that Assam Government has long been demanding extradition of Chetia for fruitful peace talks.