ULFA "Foreign Secretary" Released; NDFB (Daimary) Announces 6-Month Ceasefire

ULFA 'foreign Secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury, who was released from the Guwahati Central Jail on bail, on Tuesday hoped that talks with the government would be held soon for a peaceful solution to the ULFA-government conflict.

Talking to waiting mediapersons outside the jail, Choudhury said the discussions, which would be held soon in a peaceful environment, would ultimately solve the ULFA problem.

"Because of the people and their desire for settlement of the conflict that we (top ULFA leaders) have been released from jail. Our release was possible also due to the endeavour of the Jatiya Abhibartan (National Convention of the state's intellectuals)", he said.

"We have been undergropund for 27 years but the conflict is not greater than the people. An agenda for the talks would be prepared and all the demands of the people will be taken up", Choudhury said.

The top ULFA leader also expressed his gratitude to the government, the judiciary and jail authorities along with its inmates.

Choudhry, who was received by a large number of his relatives and supporters outside the jail, later left for his native place Helosa in Nalbari district.

Choudhury and ULFA `finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika were granted bail on Monday by the Special TADA Court in Guwahati, paving the way for the release of all top jailed leaders of the outfit to take the peace process forward.

Choudhury was granted bail in four TADA cases pending against him, while Hazarika was granted bail on three cases against him.

MEANWHILE:

The anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) led by Ranjan Daimary has unilaterally decided to go for a six-month ceasefire to create a conducive atmosphere for peace talks.

Deviating from his earlier stance to keep away from the talks, NDFB (AT) chairman Ranjan Daimary told the media that his insurgent outfit would refrain from all hostile activities and violence for a period of six months to create a peaceful and conducive environment for the talks.

Briefly speaking to reporters on his way to the TADA court in Guwahati on Monday, Daimary said the vice-president of his outfit had already issued a letter to the government to this effect.

In view of the NDFB's decision for ceasefire, he said the Centre should also respond positively.

Daimary's sister and Bodo Women Justice Forum (BWJF) president Anjali Daimary also said that the cessation of hostile activities was for a political solution to the Bodo issue.