No details on arrest of Ulfa leaders: Assam CM Tarun Gogoi

The Assam government today said that it had no details about the information regarding the arrest of some senior ULFA leaders who had fled the outfit's camps in Bangladesh.

"We have learnt that they have left camps in Bangladesh, but not about them being arrested or being handed over to the BSF. No details are with us," chief minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters here today.

Asked what would happen to the the ULFA leaders if they arrived in India, Gogoi said, "When they come we will take a decision or after they are handed over to the Indian authorities ... whether we arrest them or they surrender."

He was commenting on media reports that about 19 ULFA militants and their family members were arrested by security forces in Bangladesh in a renewed crackdown by Dhaka on Indian militants.

ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua in an e-mail statement had yesterday claimed "some of our cadre with their family members fled the camp with the help of Indian intelligence agencies and also with the active support of two of our senior jailed leaders."

Gogoi said that Barua was suffering from frustration. "But it is a good sign that ULFA militants are coming out and insurgent groups are realising the futility of armed struggle and returning to the mainstream. Many from the anti-peace talk groups are also coming."

Stating that he hoped for talks with the ULFA and other underground outfits soon, he said, "I cannot give a date for the peace talks, but we are for early talks. We are discussing how to go forward in this direction."