Seven years have passed since Bhimakanta Buragohain was captured on the soil of Bhutan. Since then he has been languishing in the Tezpur Central jail. On Tuesday only, ULFA's political adviser was released on bail. Additional Judge Sonitpur district and sessions court Hemadevi Phukan Bhuyan set Buragohain free on receipt of surety of Rs 25,000, each for two bail petitions moved by his nephews Anup Phukan and Kula Mohan Barua. Buragohain was granted bail on October 8 by Sonitpur District and Sessions Court judge Dinesh Chandra Choudhary but could not be released due to a strike by judicial employees and Durga Puja vacation. He was produced before the court again on October 12 but could not be released as his bail surety and documents could not be furnished by his nephews. He was sent back to the Gauhati Central Jail from where he was brought to the Sonitpur district and sessions court on Tuesday. He was shifted from Tezpur jail to Gauhati Central Jail early this year following the arrest in Bangladesh of several ULFA leaders, including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to allow the top leadership to meet and discuss modalities for the talks process. He was arrested under Unlawful Arms Act and remanded in judicial custody since December 2003. Before being whisked away from the court, Buragohain said the progress of the peace process and its modalities will depend on ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa.
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