DHAKA: Rapid Action Battalion personnel arrested two trespassing leaders of the Indian separatist group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in Laxmipur frontier area of Bhairab upazila of Kishoreganj district early Saturday.

The arrested ULFA leaders were identified as Major Ranjan Chowdhury, 46, and Pradip Marak, 57.

RAB officials at a press conference at the RAB Headquarters in the afternoon said these two ULFA leaders have stayed in Bangladesh for a long time after intruding into the country.

Assistant director of RAB Sakhawat Hossain told banglanews24.com.bd Kishoreganj Correspondent, “A team of RAB-9 challenged the two leaders in Laxmipur area beside the Dhaka-Bhairab Highway at about 4:30am. The RAB members chased and caught them as they tried to flee the scene.”

A pistol, a revolver, four bullets, four bombs and some bomb-making materials were recovered from their possession, journalists were told.

They were taken to the RAB headquarters in Dhaka for further interrogation.
RAB sources said Ranjan and Pradip were hiding in Gajni area of Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur frontier district.

RAB officials informed the press conference that the intelligence wing of the elite force came to know the whereabouts of the two ULFA leaders Friday. Later, a team of RAB-9 arrested them along with arms and explosives from Laxmipur area.
They also said Ranjan was staying in Bangladesh under different fake names like Ranjan Sisim, Ranjan Chowdhury, Major Ranjan, Pradip Rai, Dip Jyoti, Ranju Baroi and Masud Chowdhury.

“During preliminary interrogation, Ranjan introduced himself as an ULFA leader. He took a three-month military training under ULFA in 1990. Besides, he is expert in operating various firearms and grenades,” a RAB official said.

The sources said Ranjan went to Bhutan to meet top ULFA leader Paresh Barua in June 1995 where Barua asked him to meet ULFA secretary-general Anup Chetia in Bangladesh.

Ranjan was arrested in July the same year while going back to India from Bhutan. He was released from Guwahati jail in late 1996.

He reportedly entered Bangladesh through the border of Kurigram district to meet Paresh Barua in September 1997.

As the story goes about the latter-day Rabin Hoods, Ranjan married Sabitri Bhrum, daughter of one Manindra Hagidar, in Sherpur border area in 2001. Top ULFA leaders, including Paresh Barua and Sashadhar Choudhury, were present at his wedding ceremony in the hideout.

 BDST: 04:40 HRS, JULY 17, 2010.