Centre may release 5 top ULFA leaders

New Delhi: Giving a major fillip to the peace process in Assam, the Centre on Thursday agreed to "consider favourably" the release of five top United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leaders and to work out modalities for holding "direct" talks with the banned insurgent group within a fixed timeframe.

The assurance on considering the release of the five detained leaders, including ULFA vice chairman Pradip Gogoi, was given by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil during the third round of peace talks with the ULFA-nominated People's Consultative Group (PCG).

PCG includes human rights activists, writers, lawyers and journalists.

This is the first time in the past 27 years of ULFA‘s existence that the Centre has agreed to hold direct talks with a militant group that it accused of carrying out a series of bomb blasts recently in Assam.

Seven people were killed and scores injured in the blasts but ULFA denied the charge.

Besides Gogoi, the militants who are likely to be freed are ULFA cultural secretary Pranati Deka, publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, executive committee member Ramu Mech and ideologue Bhimakanta Buragohain, PCG sources said.

"Simultaneously, the Home Minister urged PCG to impress upon ULFA to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment so that direct talks with the Government are held at the earliest," said a joint statement issued after nearly three hours of negotiations between the Centre and the 11-member PCG.

Modalities for direct talks between the ULFA and the Centre in a fixed timeframe would be worked out through mutual consultations, the statement added. The meeting concluded with the hope that there would be restraint on all sides.

When asked what the Centre meant by saying that there should be restraint "on all sides", Home Secretary V K Duggal said, "While the Government has urged ULFA to maintain peace and create a conducive atmosphere for direct talks, we will also ensure such an atmosphere is there."

On the timeframe for the direct talks, Duggal said, "It will be at the earliest."