The Paresh Baruah-led hardliners’ faction, now known as Ulfa (Independent), on Monday wrote a letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing its resentment over the swapping of Bangladeshi criminals in exchange of Ulfa’s founder general secretary Anup Chetia, reports Times of India online. The Ulfa(I) said Chetia should be handed over to India through a decent repatriation mechanism as he has volunteered for the same. Bangladesh had sought the extradition of Subrata Bain and Sajjad Hossain in exchange for Chetia. Both the criminals had allegedly targeted Awami League leaders in Bangladesh, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While Bain is in a Kolkata jail, Hossain is in Tihar jail. Ulfa(I)’s letter stated, “Chetia is not a criminal, but a leader of freedom loving people of Assam. Handing him over to India in exchange of criminals of your country would be a humiliation. Therefore, I request you that Chaita be given an honourable and decent repatriation from the country where he sought refuge. The modalities for swapping of the prisoners are expected to be worked out during the home secretary level talks between the two countries scheduled to be held in New Delhi this week.
-With The Independent input
