ULFA chairman bail plea hearing further deferred to December 27

ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa's bail plea hearing was today further deferred to December 27 with the TADA court asking the Home and Political department to submit an affidavit regarding the latest status on him.

Rajkhowa's release was imminent with the state government deciding not to oppose his bail application as a part of the government's policy to take the peace process forward.

Rajkhowa's bail application came up for hearing today, after being deferred twice earlier, but the court ruled that the hearing could be taken up only after the home and political department submits a report in this regard.

The Court fixed the date for submission of the affidavit as December 27 and the final verdict was likely on December 30.

Meanwhile, the Gauhati high court granted Rajkhowa and the outfit's 'Finance' Secretary Chitrabon Hazarika bail yesterday in connection with the Special Operation Unit police station case number 1/95 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against a sureties of Rs 50,000 each.

Most top ULFA leaders including ULFA ideologue Bhimakanta Buragohain alias 'Mama', vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary, 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka and 'deputy commander-in-chief' Raju Barua have been already released on bail.