Decision on Ulfa top leaders' bail application deferred

A designated Tada court today deferred by a few days its decision on bail applications of United Liberation Front of Asom
 (Ulfa) 'vice chairman' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary.

Tada judge Soneka Bora fixed February 19 for hearing in three cases against Gogoi, while three others against him will be heard on February 23 along with one case against Daimary.

The bail application of the two Ulfa men had been deferred on February 4 too as the judge had fallen ill and the hearing could not be held.

The counsel of the Ulfa leaders pleaded that their clients had spent considerable time in jail and so their bail application should be treated favourably, while the government lawyer said they had no objection provided an assurance is given that the duo would not jump bail.

Gogoi was arrested in 1998 from Kolkata, while Daimary was captured by the Bhutan Army during 'Operation All Clear' in 2003 and handed over to Indian authorities.

Both are currently lodged in Guwahati Central Jail, where Ulfa 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, 'deputy commander-in-chief' Raju Barua, 'foreign secretary' Sasha Choudhury, 'finance secretary' Chitraban Hazarika and 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka are also behind bars.