ULFA wants leaders’ release

ULFA has asked for the release of its top leaders so that it can discuss the Centre’s invitation —— forwarded by Assamese writer Indira Goswami four days ago—— to hold talks on its core demands.

ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, who called up some newspaper editors in Guwahati last night, said that while the group had received a copy of the PMO letter through e-mail from Indira Goswami, he would have to discuss the contents of the letter with other members of the outfit’s Central Committee in order to respond to it. ‘‘We will have to place the

letter in our Central Committee. But since several top members are in captivity, we must first demand release of these members in order to hold a discussion,’’ The Assam Tribune quoted Barua as saying.

Barua, the newspaper said, has demanded the release of general secretary Anup Chetia, vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, central publicity secretary Mithinga Daimari, advisor and ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain and culture secretary Pranati Deka, among others. Chetia has been languishing in a prison in Dhaka since he was arrested in 997. Gogoi has been in a Guwahati prison since 1998, while Buragohain and Daimary were caught during the Royal Bhutan Army’s Operation All-Clear to flush out Indian rebel groups.