ULFA general secretary denies Indian citizenship

Guwahati, Sep 2 (UNI) India's efforts to convince Bangladesh for an extradition treaty to facilitate mainly deportation of ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, lodged in Dhaka jail, has led to the separatist leader denying Indian citizenship.

In the latest edition of ULFA mouthpiece 'Freedom', Mr Chetia had been quoted as reiterating that ''I am not an Indian citizen, I am an Assamese'' regarding the August 24 Home Secretary-level talks between the two countries on signing of an extradition treaty.

The issue of extradition of the jailed ULFA leader, along with other separatist leaders residing in Bangladesh, had also figured in the BSF-BDR talks.

''The jailed ULFA leader Anup Chetia is not perturbed over a possible extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh and he does not considers himself an Indian citizen, but an Assamese,'' said the latest issue of the 'Freedom'.

Mr Chetia had been arrested on December 21, 1997, from Dhaka along with two other ULFA leaders. He had since been lodged at the Dhaka jail and India had been pursuing his extradition.

The issue has gained prominence with the beginning of the peace negotiations with the banned group through its nominated PCG. The ULFA had set the release of five of its top jailed leaders in Asom as a pre-condition for direct talks.

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