Indian separatist leader Anup Chetia’s application for his willful repatriation to India is under home ministry’s consideration, state minister for home affairs Asaduzzaman Khan has told parliament on Sunday.
Replying to a question from independent lawmaker Rustom Ali Farazi during the scheduled question-answer session in the parliament, the junior minister has made the disclosure.
“Anup Chetia alias Golap Barua has ‘recently’ applied to the home ministry for his voluntary return to his homeland India,” Asaduzzaman said in his written script.
“Chetia’s application is under process of the home ministry.”
But the answer was not discussed in the House, according to the Rules of Procedure. So, the MPs did not get the opportunity to make further questions on this issue.
Since his arrest for illegal entry into Bangladesh and holding fake passport and foreign currency, Delhi had been making repeated demand for handover of the general secretary of the banned guerrilla organisation, United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
But Dhaka refused to extradite him as the two neighbour had no extradition treaty.
Finally, the governments signed such deal that paved the way for his handover to Indian authorities.
Anup Chita was sentenced for seven years and he finished his jail term in 2008.
Reluctant to face trial in India, Anup Chetia in December 2008 wrote to chief of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for a refugee status for a political asylum in Bangladesh.
But his appeal was taken into consideration.
