NEW DELHI, Nov 3 ? Reports of detention of top leaders of NDFB by Bangladesh Government after their unilateral ceasefire offer has sent alarm bells ringing. Highly placed sources told this newspaper that a senior leader of NDFB lieutenant Sushil Bodo a key member of the core group of the NDFB and close aide of chairman of the outfit Ranjan Daimari was mysteriously detained by authorities in Bangladesh reportedly at the behest of the DGFI.
India?s plea to Bangladesh authorities to take action on the militant leaders operating out of the country has so far been met with stout denial. But surprisingly after the NDFB announced the unilateral ceasefire that came into effect from October 15, sleuths arrested Sushil Bodo soon after that in Dhaka.
The Government of India is however, yet to be officially notified by Bangladesh about the arrest. Sources said that the detention has made the entire leadership of the NDFB holed up in the neighbouring country flee their safe houses. The action of the Bangladesh authorities is curious given that the detained militant leader was in the country since 1994 and all these years he was not arrested.
Sources disclosed that the latest development in Bangladesh is likely to delay the preliminary talks with the NDFB as the top leaders of the outfit have shifted base and gone underground. The State Government?s offer?s for talks is yet to be delivered to the outfit, sources said.
Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi last week said that the State Government?s offer to the NDFB to name its representatives have gone out and a reply from the outfit was awaited. At least four to five rounds of preliminary dialogue are expected to be held before the ground rules would be finalised.
Meanwhile, Central intelligence agencies are also trying to verify reports pouring in from Bangladesh that the chairman of the NDFB himself could be under pressure of Bangla authorities. The interpretation drawn on the action of the Bangladesh Government is that they are trying to pressurise NDFB not to go ahead with the peace process with Government of India. The arrest of Sushil Bodo was perhaps a warning to the outfits, sources said.