Top ULFA leaders 'handed over' to India by Bangladesh

In a major blow to United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), Bangladesh has acted against the banned outfit and is believed to have handed over two of its top leaders to Indian security agencies.

Self-styled Ulfa foreign secretary Sashadhar Choudhury and finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika were pushed into the Indian territory following a series crackdown on the group's hideouts in Bangladesh, sources said.

The duo was pushed on Wednesday night into Gokulnagar along the Indo-Bangla border in Tripura from where BSF personnel took them into custody.

BSF officials, however, insisted the ULFA leaders have surrendered before them after fleeing Dhaka following an "internal clash" among the cadres.

The development come a month ahead of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina's scheduled visit to India and four month's after foreign minister Dipu Moni's reported assurance to Indian leaders that tough action would be taken against militant groups, if any, operating from that country.

Sources said the Ulfa leaders were picked up by Bangladeshi security agencies from Dhaka on Sunday night and pushed into India as a "good gesture" by the Sheikh Hasina government.

Sources said since India and Bangladesh do not have any extradition treaty, process of handing over each other's wanted criminals was always cumbersome and cited the example of Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia, who despite being arrested in 1997 in Dhaka, is yet to be handed over to India due to legal complications.