Dhaka: Authorities in Bangladesh`s
northwestern Rajshahi central jail have beefed up security for
detained top ULFA leader Anup Chetia, who is likely to be
handed over to India ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s
visit in September.
"Yes, we have intensified security vigil inside and
around the prison...," a jail official was quoted as saying by
a media report today.
Chetia, the military wing chief of ULFA, was also told
about the government`s plans to hand him over to Indian
authorities, mass circulated `Samokal` newspaper said.
"He (Chetia) came to know about the decision but he did
not look perturbed," it said, quoting jailer Faruq Hossain.
A senior Home Ministry official said that despite the
government`s plans to hand over Chetia to India, no date had
been set yet for his return as the process would require some
time for legal procedures and clearance from the court.
"We have seen earlier, the time needed for such process
could range from one month to several months," Home Ministry
Joint Secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed said.
Home Minister Sahara Khatun earlier this week had said
Dhaka was likely to soon hand over Chetia to India, which has
long been seeking his repatriation for a long time.
"I don`t think there is any obstacle in handing him over
to India ... but definitely there are procedures in
extraditing someone who is in jail," she had said, ahead of
Prime Minister Singh`s visit here in September.
Chetia was arrested in Bangladesh in 1997 and is still
under detention following completion of his jail term for
cross-border intrusion.
"Mr Chetia has expired his term in jail in Bangladesh ...
still he is in jail," Khatun had said.
PTI
