Talks possible in conducive atmosphere: arrested ULFA leader

The ULFA wants a "respectable solution" to Assam's problems and is ready for talks with the Centre if they are "held in a conducive atmosphere", an arrested leader of the banned group today said.

The ULFA wants a "respectable solution" to Assam's problems and is ready for talks with the Centre if they are "held in a conducive atmosphere", an arrested leader of the banned group today said.

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"We want a respectable solution to Assam's problems and if the government shows interest, the ULFA leadership can
sit for negotiations for peace and stability of the state," arrested 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka told reporters
after she was produced at the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court here in connection with a case filed against her by the
state government.

She said the recent handing over of two top leaders --her husband and the group's 'finance secretary' Chitrabon
Hazarika and 'foreign secretary' Sasha Choudhury -- by the Bangladesh government "does not mean that ULFA has been weakened".

Assam Police's Special Operation Unit interrogating the duo currently under its custody was concentrating mainly
on Hazarika to find out the sources of ULFA's funding, a top police official said.

Hazarika has claimed before interrogators that several companies operating in Assam are still paying to the ULFA and
most of these payments are made through hawala, sources said.

Hazarika has also claimed that some surrendered ULFA militants are helping the group in fund collection.

"We are investigating these claims but as these payments have been made through hawala transactions, there is
no official document or proof to nail these companies," the official said.