Freed rebel leader stresses political talks to end strife

Guwahati: Septuagenarian separatist leader and political ideologue of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), Bhimkanta Buragohain, stepped out of Guwahati Central Jail on Sunday after seven years in custody — the fifth top rebel leader to be released on bail in six months.

"I am happy to be freed on bail and now the priority for all of us is to see that political level talks are held to bring the curtains down on the conflict in Assam," Buragohain told IANS soon after being released on bail.

Endearingly addressed as ‘mama' (uncle) by Ulfa cadres and leaders, Buragohain was captured by the Royal Bhutan Army during "Operation All Clear" in December 2003 — an offensive carried out to evict over 3,000 rebels belonging to the Ulfa and other Assam-based militants from the Himalayan nation neighbouring the state.

He was subsequently handed over to the Indian authorities and since then was lodged at various jails in Assam.

"Let the other jailed leaders be released and then only we can discuss modalities for peace talks," the 71-year-old separatist leader said.

After being released early on Sunday, he left for his ancestral home in Dhola in eastern Assam's Tinsukia district accompanied by a host of family members.

"The journey ahead is not an easy one as we have to seek a solution to more than 63 years of suppression and exploitation by India," Buragohain said.

Barring Ulfa's elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, the entire top leadership of the outfit were in jail.

The imprisoned leaders included chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, publicity chief Mithinga Daimary, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, and self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury.