ULFA release decision by September 5: Centre

Guwahati, Sept 1: The decision to release the top five ULFA leaders, who are in jail, to facilitate for a direct talk with centre, is likely to be taken in the inter ministerial meeting of the Union Government slated to be held on September 5 at New Delhi.

A senior home ministry source confirming that Sunday meeting between the ULFA representative Dr Indira Goswami and Mr Rebati Phukan with the Home Secretary V K Duggal said following developments during that meeting some kind of decision is expected in the inter-ministerial meeting slated for Tuesday next.

''The release decision will be a political one and that meeting is likely to consider that decison,'' the source said confirming that ULFA had been insisting on release of these five saying without their presence, the executive committee of the ULFA can not take a decision for talk.

Meanwhile the ULFA peace process deadlock was broken yesterday by a communique from the ULFA, assuring that the release leaders would not abscond after release, had reached the Home Ministry.

The communique arrived in the hand of Dr Goswami who in turn handed over to the Home Ministry officials. The only additional point of the new communique is that the leaders will not jump bail like the previous occasions.

The inter ministerial meeting will be attended by the officials of the Prime Minister, Defence Ministry and Home Ministry. Meanwhile, the army operation will continue to remain suspended.

The jailed five ULFA leaders are Vice-Chairman Pradeep Gogoi, Cultural Secretary Pranti Phukan, political Adviser Bhimkanta Buragohain, Publicity Secretary Mithinga Daimary and Ramu Mech.

UNI