Anup Chetia

Anup Chetia (Assamese: অনুপ চেতিয়া) (real name Golap Baruah[1][2][3] also known as Sunil Baruah, Bhaijan or Ahmed[4]) is the General Secretary of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam in Assam. He is also one of the founder leaders of the group.[2][5] He was born at Jerai Gaon in Tinsukia district of Assam.[1][4]

Anup Chetia
Born
Golap Baruah

1957
Jerai Gaon, Tinsukia, Assam
Other namesSunil Barua, Bhaijan or Ahmed
Criminal statusFreed on bail
Conviction(s)Illegally entering Bangladesh using a forged passport,
Possession of illegal foreign currency from 16 different countries,
The illegal possession of arms.
Criminal chargeKilling
Kidnapping
Extortion
Terrorism
Penalty7 years imprisonment
Date apprehended
1997
Imprisoned atKashimpur Jail, Dhaka

Arrest

Chetia was first arrested in March, 1991 in Assam but was released by then Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia.[4] Later on 21 December 1997 he was again arrested in Dhaka[1][3][4] under the Foreigners Act and the Passports Act[3] for illegally carrying foreign currencies and a satellite phone.[1] He was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment by a Bangladeshi court[2] and was being held at Kashimpur Jail in the outskirts of Dhaka.[1][2][5]

Charges

Chetia was charged with:

  • Illegally entering Bangladesh using a forged passport
  • Possession of illegal foreign currency from 16 countries
  • Illegal possession of arms.

He was also wanted by the Assam Police for various cases including killing, kidnapping and extortion.[2]

Extradition

Since his arrest in 1997, the Government of India has asked Bangladesh to extradite Chetia.[2][3] The request was refused by Bangladesh on the ground that the two countries do not have an extradition treaty.[2] However, India is still hopeful that the Sheikh Hasina government would accede to the request in view of its tough resolve against terrorism.[3]

The Union Home Affairs joint secretary (north east) has recently said that Chetia will most probably be handed over to the Government of India by the Government of Bangladesh, by December 2013.[6]

After the 15th India-Bangladesh Home Secretary-level meeting at Dhaka, Bangladesh Home Affairs Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan has confirmed that Bangladesh has agreed to hand over Anup Chetia to India, which will send back Nur Hossain, prime accused in a case of seven murders in Narayanganj.[7]

Seeking Political Asylum

On 7 December 2008, Chetia had written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees urging it to grant him refugee status and political asylum in Bangladesh.[1][3] In a letter to António Guterres, head of the Geneva-based UNHCR, Chetia pleaded that he had already completed seven years of imprisonment and hence was no longer a convict to be held in a jail. ULFA also appealed for political asylum in a safe country.[1]

Present status

Although Chetia was the General Secretary of ULFA, political analysts in the region doubt his current influence within the organization.[2] On 11 November 2015, Anup was handed over by Bangladesh Government to India.[8]

Anup Chetia has been released from the Guahati jail on bail on 24 December 2015.

See also

References
  1. Thakuria, Nava (18 December 2008). "ULFA leader Anup Chetia seeks political asylum". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  2. Moazzem, Hossain (24 September 2002). "Bangladesh jails Indian rebel chief". BBC News. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  3. "India seeks Anup Chetia's deportation from B'desh". Zeenews.com. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  4. "Who's afraid of the ULFA?". Indianexpress.com. 13 January 2007. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  5. "United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) – Terrorist Group of Assam". Satp. Archived from the original on 17 November 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  6. "Anup Chetia to be extradited". The Hindu. 13 September 2013. Jailed United Liberation Front of Assam general secretary Anup Chetia will be extradited to India from Bangladesh by December this year, Union Home Affairs joint secretary (north east), Shambhu Singh, told reporters here on Wednesday.
  7. "Anup Chetia to be extradited". The Hindu. 4 September 2014. Bangladesh to extradite ULFA leader to India.
  8. "Bangladesh hands over top ULFA leader Anup Chetia to India". IBNLive. 11 November 2015.
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