Anup Chetia sent to five-day CBI custody

Chetia was brought to Guwahati yesterday by the CBI on a transit remand and produced before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate amid tight security. “CBI has provided medical care to him”. Anup Chetia, whose real name is Golap Baruah, is the founding member of ULFA and its general secretary. He was later sent to the CBI custody.

His wife Monika Bruah and other family members, who wanted to meet him at the airport, were denied permission by authorities. “After hearing us, the magistrate remanded Chetia in five-day CBI custody”, said Chetia’s counsel Bijan Mahajan. It took a long time to bring Chetia back to the country even after he had served his jail term of seven years because there was no extradition treaty between the two countries at that time.

After the court’s proceedings, the CBI officers took Chetia back to New Delhi with them. “Finally the wait is over and I wish the government of India will ensure his release so that the talks could go ahead”, she said. The ULFA leader, who has one of his front teeth missing, was dressed in a blue full sleeved shirt and fawn coloured pants with his hair dyed in a reddish hue.

Asked if he talked with Chetia about the ongoing peace process with the government, Gogoi told reporters, “I could talk to him only briefly”. He was arrested by Bangladesh police in December 1997 for entering the country on fake documents, possessing illegal foreign currency, firearms and a satellite phone.