In a major breakthrough today, the state police were able to arrest hardcore ULFA cadre Akash Thapa alias Saranga Patowari of 709 Battalion in West Garo Hills of Meghalaya. He was abducted when he was returning along with another hardcore leader of the outfit Captain Derhagra Sarania.
Captain Derhagra Sarania was arrested by the Bangladesh authorities back in 2009 and was convicted of a seven-year jail sentence. Strangely, he was deported to India without his conviction completed in Bangladesh prison. Besides, there is yet no extradition treaty signed between India and Bangladesh regarding the transfer of prisoners or criminals convicted in either country. The lack of a treaty has been cited as the reason for the inability to transfer ULFA General Secretary Anup Chetia to Indian authorities to facilitate the lateral talk process, although Chetia has already completed his conviction.
Captain Derhagra Sarania’s unofficial handover by Bangladesh authorities in India is understood to have been because of some secret understanding between the leaders of the pro-talk ULFA faction and the Indian Government and facilitated by the helpful Sheikh Hasina Government of Bangladesh.
From sources, it is being reported that ULFA leaders Akash Thapa and Captain Derhagra Sarania had come to Shillong to meet some unidentified contact of the outfit when the duo was arrested. It is to be mentioned that while Derhagra Sarania was serving a conviction in Bangladesh Jail, Akash Thapa alias Saranga Patowary, who is close to 709 Battalion Commander Heera Sarania, is a member of ULFA Pro-Talk Faction.