Paresh Barua will not be harassed if he comes for talks: Assam Governor J B Patnaik

NEW DELHI: ULFA's elusive 'commander-in- chief' Paresh Baruah and members of his group will not be "harassed" by security agencies if they come forward for peace talks with the government for finding a lasting solution to 34-year-old insurgency in Assam, state Governor J B Patnaik said today.

Asking Barua to shun violence, the governor said no action will be taken against him and other leaders in his group if they come to the negotiating table.

"Once they decide to come to the negotiating table, then there will be no question of taking action against them. They would not be harassed (by security agencies)," Patnaik told PTI here.

The Centre has been holding dialogue with pro-talk faction of ULFA led by its 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa in the last two years after the group signed a 'suspension of operation' pact in September 2011.

Expressing satisfaction over progress of peace talks, Patnaik termed the group led by Rajkhowa as "real ULFA" and said there may be some significant announcement "soon" on the outcome of the dialogue held so far.

However, he refused to divulge any details in this regard.

"The talks are progressing well. The groups involved in talks are satisfied. If they are satisfied then government is also satisfied. There may be some kind of announcement soon," he said.

Quoting reports, the governor said Barua mostly lives in China and Bangladesh.