Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia will most likely be deported from Bangladesh ahead of the July 18-19 talks here between the home secretaries of the two countries.

A source told The Telegraph, “Chetia will be flown to New Delhi first and efforts are being made to do that before July 18.” He would be brought here first, possibly for a debriefing by intelligence agencies. The militant leader has been in Bangladesh jails since December 1997 after being arrested by authorities in that country.

A team of Indian officials is being readied to shortly leave for Dhaka to accompany the Ulfa leader back.

As a return gesture, some Bangladeshi inmates in Indian prisons may be deported before the July 18-19 bilateral home secretary-level talks, the sources said.

Officials were tightlipped about what status Chetia would assume on his return, as he had been away from India for two decades, the time spent mostly in jail.

If Dhaka acquiesces to the Indian extradition request then Chetia may have to be produced before a court and possibly jailed. “But the cases against him are quite old and if his deportation is of a political nature, then we will have to see,” said an official, hinting that he might not be in jail for long.

The deportation proceedings became apparent when Chetia expressed willingness to return to India by withdrawing his request to seek asylum this year and was subsequently shifted from a jail in Rajshahi to a prison on outskirts of Dhaka.

This happened after feelers were sent to him for a return to India in exchange for his involvement in negotiations.

The Ulfa leader has thrice applied in Bangladesh courts seeking asylum.

Chetia’s return has been a subject of speculation for some time now. Bangladesh home minister M.K. Alamgir signalled at least twice since last year that processes were on to send him to India.

The senior militant leader, to return after 16 years in Bangladesh prisons, is likely to join the negotiations between the Centre and Ulfa.

While Chetia’s inclusion may perhaps be seen as coming a little late in the day, the leader’s roots and support base in Upper Assam matters to the Assam government. The founding member of Ulfa was also mentor to Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua. His return and a possible support to the negotiation could not only goad Barua to soften his hard line but also lend more credibility to the ongoing negotiation with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led pro-talks faction of Ulfa.

Barua is believed to be somewhere in Myanmar and has cases against him in Bangladesh.

For the government, Chetia’s active involvement in a peace process would mean that violence by Barua might see a natural decline. “We would welcome Chetia joining the negotiation and even Barua’s joining, if he does,” said a senior functionary engaged in Ulfa talks.

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Ends/AMA/13/07/13