Assam CM Tarun Gogoi hopes Chetia will play important role in peace process

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today expressed hope that ULFA General Secretary Anup Chetia, handed over by Bangladesh to India, would play an important role in the peace process and said the militant leader should be handed over to the state government.

"We believe that he will paly an important role in the talks process. We have been demanding for extradition of Anup Chetia from Bangladesh for fruitful discussion between the government and pro-talk ULFA. It has been a demand of the pro-talk group too", Gogoi said in a statement.

Gogoi said he expected the Centre to release him like Assam government has done in the case of other pro-talk ULFA leaders like the outfit's chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to "expedite the peace process" .

"We hope the Government of India will utilise his service in the peace process", he said.

"Last night we were informed that he has been handed over to the Indian embassy in Bangladesh. The Government of India infomed us formally at 3 pm," he said.

"The Government of Assam urges the Government of India to hand over Anup Chetia and two others to the state government," the chief minister said.