ULFA chief Rajkhowa receives warm welcome in Sivasagar

Sivasagar (Assam), Jan.3 (ANI): The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has received a warm welcome at his hometown in Assam's Sivasagar District during the weekend.

Rajkhowa first paid a visit to the Rong Ghar Park, which is considered the birthplace of ULFA. Later, he attended an event at a boarding school and addressed a massive gathering on the occasion.

Representatives of various organizations cutting across political party lines, cultural groups, citizens' organizations, youth outfits, tribal groups and religious organizations gave a cheerful reception to Rajkhowa on his arrival.

This was the first public meeting attended by Rajkhowa after his release from jail on Saturday.

Later in the evening, Rajkhowa met his 98-year-old mother Damayanti Rajkonwari at his residence.

On Thursday, Rajkhowa was granted bail by a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court to facilitate peace talks in the province.

Rajkhowa is the sixth top ULFA leader to be released on bail.

He was arrested along with the outfit's Finance Secretary Chitrabon Hazarika and Foreign Secretary Sasadhar Choudhury, who were picked up in Bangladesh and handed over to Indian authorities in Meghalaya in December 2009.

Five more ULFA leaders including its vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, Deputy Commander in Chief Raju Barua, Central Publicity Secretary Mithinga Daimari, Cultural Secretary Pranati Deka and Adviser Bhimkanta Buragohain have already been released on bail. By Peter Alex Todd (ANI)