Walk free

United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa who has been fighting for an independent Assam homeland for more than 30 years was granted bail by a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court to facilitate peace talks.
Rajkhowa Rajkhowa was released on bail from the Guwahati Central Jail where he was being held on charges of sedition.
He was granted bail by a special TADA court Thursday after the government prosecutor gave no objection to Rajkhowa’s bail petition. After his release he said that the group was ready for unconditional peace talks with the government, but a formal decision to this effect could be taken at their executive meeting once all jailed leaders are released.
He had been in prison after being arrested in Bangladesh a year ago. More than 50 rebel leaders and activists have been handed over to India since then, while others have been arrested while trying to enter the country to avoid capture in Bangladesh.
Ulfa rebels have fought for a separate Assamese homeland since 1979 often with bloody consequences. In 2009, the government in Bangladesh launched a crackdown on Indian separatists operating out of Bangladeshi territory.
Rajkhowa has said Ulfa was ready for peace talks with the Indian government. However, other members of the Ulfa leadership are known to oppose talks.
With pro and anti talks groups within the group, the walk for ULFA and Indian government won’t be easy. It has to thread the path carefully.
The Indian government, who is in a celebratory mode after the arrest of Rajkhowa need to accommodate all factions. A rigid approach would be a disaster.