ULFA militants with 'own people', not in police custody: Gogoi

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ULFA militants, who had reportedly surrendered in Bangladesh, were with their "own people" in the state and not in police custody.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that the ULFA militants, who had reportedly surrendered in Bangladesh, were with their "own people" in the state and not in police custody.

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"The militants have come into the state and are not in the custody of the state police but in their own places among their own people," Gogoi said in Guwahati on Monday on the sidelines of a function launching a model health project.

"The militants are coming as they are interested in holding talks and this has made us more hopeful of holding talks at the earliest," he added.

More militants were coming in and it was an indication that they want a solution to their grievances through talks.

"They have realised that there is no point in an armed struggle and that the development in Assam is only possible if their problems are resolved through talks and discussions," he added.

Asked whether talks would be held without the outfit's Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua, Gogoi said that efforts were on to bring him for talks but there was a "time limit and we cannot wait for him indefinitely".