ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, ‘deputy c-in-c’ Raju Baruah and Rajkhowa’s bodyguard Raja Bora sent to 12-day police remand
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 5: Under tight security arrangements, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, military spokesman Raju Baruah and Rajkhowa’s bodyguard Raja Bora were today produced before the Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court that sent them to a 12-day police remand. The three were booked in the Case No. 2/98 under Section 384 of IPC and Section 370 of Unlawful Act. The Special Operation Unit of the State police wanted 14-day remand of the ULFA trio, but the court sent them to a 12-day remand.
While alighting from the bus, Arabinda Rajkhowa and Raju Baruah, both handcuffed, said that they had not surrendered and they would never. Raju Baruah said that they were victims of a deep-rooted conspiracy. “Our struggle for independence will continue,” they said, and added: “We were cheated by Bangladesh.”
After coming out of the CJM Court, Rajkhowa said there cannot be talks ‘‘in handcuffs’’ and that they must be set ‘‘free’’ for peace talks.
The ULFA trio were for hardly ten minutes in the court. Their lawyer Bijon Mahajan said that Arabinda Rajkhowa, Raju Baruah and Raja Bora had been arrested. They have been booked in a case based on an FIR lodged in 1998.
The two ULFA leaders and Rajkhowa’s bodyguard were taken to the CJM Court from Kahilipara in a bus (No. AS01AC7289).
“I didn’t surrender. I was arrested. I won’t sit for peace talks minus the demand for sovereignty of Assam. You convey this information to the people of Assam,” Ajay Rajkhowa, elder brother of Arabinda Rajkhowa, quoted the ULFA chairman as telling him.
Ajay Rajkhowa said this is his first meeting with Arabinda since 1985. “We will extend him legal aid. Peace talks are ULFA’s internal matter. We want peace talks between the Government and the ULFA,” he said.
Jatin Kalita, elder brother of Raju Baruah, also said: “We want peace talks between the Government and the ULFA. I met my brother after 23 years.” The family members of both Arabinda Rajkhowa and Raju Baruah welcomed the two ULFA leaders with gamosas. A section of the huge crowd in front of the court shouted slogans like ‘‘ULFA zindabad’’. THE SENTINEL
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